CRANBERRY, Pa. -- The NHL Department of Player Safety issued two fines as a result of the actions at the end of the Penguins' win over the Senators on Monday, the NHL announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Senators forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau was fined $2,500 for roughing for swatting Evgeni Malkin in the face at 19:40 of the third period. Pageau received a minor penalty on the play.
Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, for high sticking Pageau in the neck in retaliation for the roughing. Malkin received a minor penalty on the play.
The altercation between Malkin and Pageau came after a scrum that ensued after back-to-back hits on Malkin:
Malkin is lucky he didn't receive further discipline as a result of the drama at the end of the game. When an official escorted Malkin off the ice after his high sticking penalty, Malkin appeared to attempt to get back onto the ice to get back into the action. Leaving the bench to start or join an altercation carries an automatic 10-game suspension. Malkin was stopped by Matt Murray, Chad Ruhwedel, and associate head equipment manager Jon Taglianetti before he was able to leave the bench, though:
A $5,000 fine doesn't seem so bad given how close Malkin was to getting 10 games.
Dave Molinari's game coverage on Monday focused on just how nasty this game got.
