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Evgeni Malkin's five-game suspension explained by NHL Player Safety ruling
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
NHL Player Safety gave Evgeni Malkin five games and a $158,854.15 hit, a brutal blow to Pittsburgh's top-six and playoff push.
TribLIVE had the number fast, and the contract context matters too. Malkin carries a $6.1 million cap hit and is playing the last year of his deal.
He is not just a name on the sheet. Malkin has 13-34-47 in 46 games, still driving the second line and the first power-play flank.
The league's wording made this one simple. It called the swing intentional, dangerous, and forceful enough for supplemental discipline.
That is why this hurts beyond the headline. Pittsburgh loses a playmaker, a net-front chaos creator, and one of the few forwards who can slow the game down.
"This is an intentional stick swing that strikes an opponent at a dangerous height and is delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline."
Saturday's game against Philadelphia now feels heavier. Sidney Crosby is still out, so Dan Muse has to rebuild the middle of his lineup on the fly.
The power play is where I feel this most. Malkin still sees seams others miss, and Pittsburgh does not have many clean half-wall answers behind him.
Evgeni Malkin leaves Pittsburgh exposed
Pens fans have seen this movie before, and the frustration is real because this team was finally pushing back into the race.
This also lands at the worst roster moment. Kyle Dubas held his nerve at the deadline, but a five-game suspension can make that patience look thin fast.
Malkin can return March 16 against Colorado. Until then, the Penguins need ugly goals, clean breakouts, and far more from their support wingers.
The hardest part is the timing. One reckless swing just turned a hopeful stretch into a survival test.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Pittsburgh Penguins suspensions hit three straight after Evgeni Malkin ban
Pittsburgh Penguins suspensions hit three straight after Evgeni Malkin ban
| POLL | ||
MARS 7|220 ANSWERS Evgeni Malkin's five-game suspension explained by NHL Player Safety ruling Will Evgeni Malkin's suspension hurt the Pittsburgh Penguins playoff push? | ||
| Yes | 170 | 77.3 % |
| No | 50 | 22.7 % |
| List of polls | ||