NHL Player Safety addresses Evgeni Malkin's dangerous cross-check
The Pittsburgh Penguins were hosting the Nashville Predators on Sunday. The Pens won the game 3-2, but that isn't the biggest storyline coming out of the game.
With the 2nd period winding down Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin were engaged in a scrum in front of the Predators' net. After the final buzzer sounded, Malkin initially slashed Borowiecki near his leg, breaking his stick, and he then followed it up with a cross-check that hit Boro in the face, immediately drawing blood.
Borowiecki received a minor penalty for slashing for his role in the scuffle, while Malkin was given a double-minor for high-sticking.
Per NHL Player Safety Malkin will have a hearing for his actions on Sunday.
Malkin has been suspended one time in his career, earning a one-game ban in 2019 for recklessly swinging his stick at Michael Raffl's head. He also received a major penalty and game misconduct in 2018 for a head shot on T.J. Oshie, but avoided further punishment from the NHL.
Auston Matthews received a two game suspension for high sticking Rasmus Dahlin during the Winter Classic. When comparing the Malkin vs Matthews high sticking incidents, Malkin's looks a lot more vicious. I expect a longer suspension for Malkin when you consider the brutality of the high stick as well as having a previous suspension on his record.
| POLL | ||
How many games should Malkin get suspended for? | ||
| Two | 42 | 15.1 % |
| Three | 63 | 22.6 % |
| Five or more | 127 | 45.5 % |
| Zero, What's Cross-Checking | 47 | 16.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
