Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been suspended five games for slashing Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, it was announced Friday by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
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
The 39-year-old Malkin will be eligible to return to action on Mar. 16 against the Colorado Avalanche.
Early in the second period of Thursday’s contest between the two teams, Malkin slashed Dahlin in the side of the head after the two were shoving each other in front of the Sabres’ net.
Malkin was given a five-minute major penalty for slashing and a 10-minute game misconduct as he was ejected from the game. Malkin and Dahlin were also both given off-setting minor penalties for cross-checking.
The Sabres went on to win 5-1 as Josh Norris scored the eventual game-winning goal on the five-minute power play.
Malkin has 13 goals and 47 points in 46 games with the Penguins this season, his 20th with the franchise.
Malkin has been suspended twice previously in his career. In 2019, he was suspended one game for high-sticking in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers and then in 2022, he was handed a four-game ban for cross-checking.