The Pittsburgh Penguins recently dropped their latest game to the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 as the Penguins were pretty much run out of the building. But in a close game in the second period, Evgeni Malkin was being cross-checked several times by Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.
And in response, Malkin chopped Dahlin in the neck and put him in a head-lock and Malkin dropped his gloves and tried to fight Dahlin. And what Malkin did unfortunately had consequences. The Department of Player Safety has suspended Malkin for the next 5 games.
Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for five games for slashing Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin. https://t.co/CJFhMVuZ9k
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 7, 2026
Malkin absolutely deserved the max suspension that was given to him. Chopping somebody in the neck with a slash is very uncalled for and not a hockey play and Malkin also has a prior history with a few suspensions.
Malkin should have known once he decided to make that play, that he was going to get at least a few games for it. Malkin has a very bad temper that he cannot seem to keep under control and it costs him again and again.
Now the Penguins are going to have to navigate the next 5 games against the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights without the Russian superstar. Malkin needs to figure out his temper issue and now he will be in the press box watching his teammates because of an awful choice.
And the fact that the Penguins are in second in the Metro division right now with the New York Islanders and the Columbus Blue Jackets chasing them, this was not the time to lose your cool. Now the Penguins will need to try to find a way to get points without him and Sidney Crosby for the weekend.
It sounds like Crosby could play starting next week, but the Penguins need to get through the weekend without him first. But it is a welcome sign that he might not be far away.