NHL star Evgeni Malkin ejected for slashing opponent across the face, could face suspension

Pittsburgh Penguins prima Evgeni Malkin mislaid his chill during the 2nd play of the team’s 5-1 nonaccomplishment to the Buffalo Sabres connected Thursday astatine PPG Paints Arena, and slashed Rasmus Dahlin crossed the face.

After the whistle blew conscionable 38 seconds successful the 2nd period, Dahlin and Malkin engaged successful immoderate other circular activities. Dahlin cross-checked Malkin, and the Penguins prima responded by bringing his instrumentality up and whacking Dahlin crossed the face.

After slashing Dahlin, Malkin wrapped up Dahlin down the head. The brace was yet separated.

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Rasmus Dahlin (26) of the Buffalo Sabres argues with Evgeni Malkin (71) of the Pittsburgh Penguins astatine PPG PAINTS Arena successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected March 5, 2026. (Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dahlin received a cross-checking punishment for his infraction portion Malkin received a punishment for cross-checking, a five-minute large for slashing and was ejected from the game.

Penguins caput manager Dan Muse didn't remark connected Malkin's punishment aft the game.

"He's evidently a catalyst for our team," said Bryan Rust, who scored Pittsburgh's lone goal. "He drives a batch of play and creates a batch of offense. He's an unbelievable player, truthful it's unfortunate."

Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) skates during the archetypal play of an NHL hockey crippled against the Buffalo Sabres successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected March 5, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)

Sabres guardant Josh Norris scored connected the powerfulness play from Malkin’s punishment to marque it 2-1, and the Sabres ne'er looked backmost aft that.

Malkin, who has been suspended doubly successful his career, has a proceeding with the NHL’s Player Safety Department connected Friday. Malkin was suspended 1 crippled for high-sticking Philadelphia Flyers' Michael Raffl successful February 2019, and 4 games successful April 2022 for cross-checking Nashville Predators' Mark Borowiecki.

"Hopefully, helium served his clip (Thursday) and that's it," defenseman Erik Karlsson said. "He's a large portion of this team. He's been playing large hockey and gives america a antithetic magnitude to our violative game."

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Pittsburgh Penguins halfway Evgeni Malkin (71) skates with the puck during the archetypal play successful the NHL crippled betwixt the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres connected March 5, 2026, astatine PPG Paints Arena successful Pittsburgh, PA. (Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Malkin's 10-game location points streak ended Thursday. He has 13 goals and 47 points successful 46 games. The Penguins are presently without Sidney Crosby owed to an wounded helium sustained during the Olympics and person been relying connected Malkin to prime up the slack.

Losing Malkin to a suspension for immoderate play of clip would beryllium a stroke to the Penguins.

"I deliberation we've shown passim the twelvemonth that we're a beauteous heavy team," Karlsson said. "We miss some of those guys, but it's thing that we haven't done before."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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