In February, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin delivered a questionable hit to the head of Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler. On Wednesday, Wheeler settled the score with Malkin, punching the Penguins’ star repeatedly in the back of the head.
The fight occurred three-and-a-half minutes into the game. Malkin did not land a single punch and ate seven consecutive haymakers before falling to the ice.
According to hockeyfights.com, the bout was Malkin’s sixth career fight while it was Wheeler’s eighth.
After the two skill players were sent to the box, heavyweight fighters Tom Sestito and Chris Thorburn renewed their rivalry after the ensuing faceoff two seconds later. Sestito and Thorburn’s marathon bout lasted one minute and eight seconds.
But then! The game officially turned into a sideshow towards the tail end of the first period. Sestito, a notorious goon, checked Toby Enstrom from behind, leveling the Jets skater head-first into the boards.
Enstrom did not return to the game.
Toby Enstrom will not return to tonight's game due to an upper-body injury. #PITvsWPG
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) March 9, 2017
Sestito received a five-minute major and 10-minute game misconduct. Sestito finished the game with 1:02 time on ice and 20 minutes of penalties.
Wednesday’s hockey violence was all in response to a dirty hit by Malkin on Wheeler on February 16th.
Malkin served an interference minor for the hit and a roughing minor for a tiff that broke out after the bodycheck. Wheeler was somehow not injured and continued playing in the game. Malkin received no supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
NHL doesn't suspend Malkin for high hit; Malkin fights, and Penguins call up Sestito, who fights and delivers a bad hit. Circle of hockey.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) March 9, 2017
In the end, Malkin scored twice and the Penguins beat the Jets 7-4.
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