Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for four games for cross-checking Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki in the face Sunday.
He will miss home-and-home series against the Islanders and Bruins, and will be eligible to return when the Penguins visit Detroit April 23.
Malkin was punished for his actions at the end of the second period in the Penguins' 3-2 overtime victory against Nashville, when he slashed Borowiecki across the midsection, then cross-checked him in the mouth.
Borowiecki, who bled heavily and did not return to the game, received a slashing minor following their run-in, while Malkin was assessed a double-minor for interference.
Here is a look at the incident:
The Department of Player Safety's explanation of its suspension ruling included the following:
"After battling throughout their shift on the ice, Borowiecki briefly engages and restrains Malkin. Upon disengaging, Borowiecki swipes at Malkin's back with his glove. In response, Malkin first delivers a forceful, two-handed slash to Borowiecki, knocking his stick to the ice. Then, with Borowiecki still in his immediate proximity, Malkin pulls his stick back again, raises it to head-height and strikes Borowiecki directly in the face."
It went on to say that, "It is important to note that this is not a case where Malkin raises his stick defensively, or reflexively, to protect himself. We find Malkin's cross-check to be retaliatory and aggressive. While we heard Malkin's assertion that Borowiecki initiated the scrum by restraining him and confronting him, neither action merited Malkin's response.
"Players are not excused from violating league rules because of the actions of their opponents. There is simply no justification for a player to forcefully and intentionally cross-check another player in this manner."
The DOPS release noted that Malkin previously had been suspended once and fined three times during his career, which might well have added to the length of his suspension.
With Malkin unavailable and Anthony Angello and Radim Zohorna assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier in the day, the Penguins have just 11 healthy forwards available for their game against the Islanders Tuesday at 7:38 p.m. on Long Island.
Consequently, either Brock McGinn, who has missed the past 15 games because of an unspecified upper-body injury, will return to active duty or the Penguins will recall someone from Wilkes-Barre.
Losing his No. 2 center likely will cause Mike Sullivan to make some major moves with his forward combinations.
One possibility would be to move Jeff Carter up to the second line and Teddy Blueger to the third, while shifting Brian Boyle from left wing to center on the No. 4 line and adding McGinn or the recalled player to the wing on that unit.
Malkin, who missed the first 34 games of 2021-22 while recovering from offseason knee surgery, has 17 goals and 20 assists in 37 games.
The suspension will force him to forfeit $190,000 in salary, with that money going to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
