Evgeni Malkin has likely earned himself a date with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
The 39-year-old center received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head on Thursday night. The play happened in the second period of Buffalo’s eventual 5-1 beatdown of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
While the two players engaged in a net-front battle, Dahlin cross-checked Malkin to move him away from goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Malkin responded with a Paul Bunyan-style hack at Dahlin’s helmet, audible on the ESPN broadcast.
Malkin then dropped his gloves to try to fight Dahlin, but the latter wasn’t interested in fisticuffs after taking the slash. The on-ice officials stepped in before a punch was thrown and inevitably ejected Malkin from the game. Malkin and Dahlin also received matching two-minute minor penalties for cross-checking.
The Penguins legend has a history of losing his cool during games, having been suspended twice previously in his career. Malkin’s most recent punishment was the four games he sat out in 2022 for cross-checking Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki in the face. He has also been fined four other times.
One of those four fines came earlier this season after Malkin slashed Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley.
After recording just 50 points (16g, 34a) in 68 games last season, Malkin has returned to more familiar form this year, notching 47 points (13g, 34a) in 46 games. He is second on the team in scoring behind captain Sidney Crosby (59) and tied with defender Erik Karlsson for the team lead in assists.
Malkin, set to be an unrestricted free agent in July, has, per The Athletic’s Josh Yohe, not yet discussed contract specifics with the Penguins. The 2025-26 season was previously thought to be Malkin’s last in Pittsburgh, but his scoring revitalization may have changed those plans.
The Penguins, embattled in a close race for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, are without Crosby for a few more weeks due to the lower-body injury he suffered with Team Canada at the Olympics.
