CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Evgeni Malkin served his one-game NHL suspension for swinging his stick into the face of the Flyers’ Michael Raffl, and will be back in the lineup Saturday afternoon when the Flames come to town.
Malkin shared his thoughts on his suspension following the Penguins' optional practice Thursday at the Lemieux Sports Complex.
"One game, probably it's OK," Malkin said. "I played dangerous, my stick went high. But my point, I didn't touch his face. I touched his shoulder, I think. I think he dove."
Malkin believed his history came into consideration when the Department of Player Safety handed out the suspension. In November, he earned a five-minute major and game misconduct but no further discipline for a hit to the head of T.J. Oshie.
"I have not a great history before," said Malkin. "I hit Oshie, I talked to the NHL before. I think everything, they do it together and give me one game. It's fine. I try to forget that, it's a little bit bad luck for me. But it's one game. It's money."
Malkin was frustrated at the lack of discipline from Raffl, who first punched Malkin in the back of the head.
"This is my point," Malkin said, sounding exasperated. "I talked to the league, this is my point. I missed five games because I had a problem with my upper-body, my neck. He hit me behind my neck. Of course I'm a little bit upset. We see the time, four minutes left, we lead three to nothing. We know Philly, they're going to start doing s--- when they're losing."
"(Raffl) played dirty," Malkin continued. "The referee didn't give him nothing. I didn't understand that."
Malkin thought his line with Phil Kessel and Nick Bjugstad had a solid game in Philadelphia otherwise. It was Malkin's first game back after sitting out the previous five. He said he was a "little bit nervous" in his return, but he felt good in the game.
Malkin said the Penguins have been finding their game over the last 25 games, and have been playing fast, smart, and better in the defensive zone. He's now looking ahead to the "new life, new challenge" that comes from the postseason.
"It's a tough league, but we try to win every game," he said. "We look to the playoffs, and we look forward to being in the playoffs and showing our best game in the playoffs."
• It was a highly optional skate for the Penguins. In addition to Malkin, the Penguins who participated were Dominik Simon, Tanner Pearson, Patric Hornqvist, Teddy Blueger, Jared McCann, Zach Aston-Reese, Garrett Wilson, Justin Schultz, Juuso Riikola, Chad Ruhwedel, and Casey DeSmith.
Mike Chiasson, a goalie development coach at the Lemieux Complex, filled in as the second goaltender.
• Schultz again practiced in full, as he works towards a return to the lineup for the first time since October. He said the next step is just feeling 100 percent during practices. When he does, he'll play. He's feeling confident and close to returning.
"It's up to me, when I feel I'm ready to play I'll be in," he said. "It's good to get these skates in and get as much work as I can."
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