“Retaliatory and aggressive” – NHL suspended Evgeni Malkin to 4 games for cross-checking Mark Borowiecki
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Evgeni Malkin and Mark Borowiecki
Pittsburg Penguin’s Evgeni Malkin has been suspended for 4 games by the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety without pay for cross-checking Nashville’s Predators Mark Borowiecki in the face. It was a significant blow to the Penguins as they are trying hard to hold onto their position for the playoffs.
Evgeni Malkin will lose the opportunity to participate in the upcoming games against New York Islanders and Boston Bruins. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced the suspension on Monday following a disciplinary hearing. The suspension from the league was explained as “retaliatory and aggressive”.
Evgeni Malkin’s cross-checking Mark Boroweicki
Initially, Malkin was given only a 4-min double minor penalty after clubbing Borowiecki’s mouth with his stick at the end of the second period of the Penguin’s 3-2 overtime against the Predators on Sunday. Coach Mike Sullivan spoke with the reporters after the game.
“It’s an emotional game out there,” “It’s physical, and sometimes that stuff happens. It was a physical game, especially at the net fronts in those areas where that took place.”
“Obviously, we don’t want our best players in the penalty box, but these guys are competitive guys and they push back. We’d prefer they be on the ice. They give us a better chance when they’re on the ice, for sure. But one of the things we love about Geno is how competitive he is, and so when you get an emotional game like the game we had today, those things happen.”
Malkin and Borowiecki were engaged in a conflict near the Predator’s net when Malkin slashed Borowiecki’s stick and cross-checked him in the mouth. Borowiecki appeared to have lost some teeth and the player didn’t return to the ice thereafter.
This is Malkin’s second suspension after a 1 game ban for high-sticking in the 2019 game for cross-checking then Philadelphia Pirates forward Michael Raffl. Malkin is fined 3 times now, and the suspension cost him $190,000 in salary, as noted on sportingnews.com. He’s eligible to return by the April 23rd game against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Penguins beat the Predators in overtime to a 4-game skid. They have lost 7 of their last games and are in a tight spot for losing out of 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division and in the Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
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Kaushani Chatterjee
(2156 Articles Published)