Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head during their game on Thursday. The incident resulted in Malkin’s automatic ejection from the contest and drew immediate attention from on-ice officials and both benches.
The play occurred during game action when Malkin and Dahlin became engaged near the puck. Officials ruled that Malkin’s stick made contact with Dahlin’s head, leading to the major penalty call for slashing. After video review and discussion among the referees, the original ruling on the ice was upheld and the game misconduct was confirmed, removing Malkin from the remainder of the game.
Dahlin remained the focus of attention from Buffalo’s bench staff following the play as he was evaluated after absorbing the high slash. The Sabres were awarded a five-minute power play as a result of the major penalty, giving them an extended man-advantage opportunity. Because a major penalty does not end with a goal, Pittsburgh was required to play short-handed for the full duration of the five-minute span.
Malkin’s ejection forced the Penguins to adjust their forward lines for the rest of the night. As one of Pittsburgh’s primary offensive players and a regular on both the power play and at even strength, his absence altered the team’s rotation at center and on special teams. Other forwards were tasked with taking additional shifts and responsibilities in his place.
Major penalties involving contact to the head typically draw additional review from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. Such incidents are often examined after the game to determine whether supplemental discipline, such as a fine or suspension, is warranted under league rules. Any potential discipline would be announced by the league following its review of the play.
The game continued with heightened physical intensity following the call, as both teams responded to the incident and its impact on the flow of play. Pittsburgh had to manage the long penalty kill without one of its veteran leaders, while Buffalo sought to take advantage of the extended power-play opportunity.
The slashing major and game misconduct added a significant disciplinary storyline to the matchup, placing further attention on Malkin’s status going forward and on how the league will evaluate the incident in the days ahead.
