Ask Peelsy: How many games for Evgeni Malkin?
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced on Monday that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will have a hearing later this evening for his cross-check to the face of Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki on Sunday.
Daily Faceoff rules analyst and longtime NHL referee Tim Peel is here with his take.
Hey Peelsy, how many games for Malkin?
Mark Borowiecki takes a minor for slashing and Evgeni Malkin takes a double minor for high sticking at the end of the second 😨 pic.twitter.com/hmHmeyG6MP
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 10, 2022The Incident
If I were running the Department of Player Safety, I’d be considering a lengthy suspension for Evgeni Malkin for his cross-check to Mark Borowiecki’s face.
I think 5 games would send the proper message – that using your stick as a weapon needs to be taken out of our game. Malkin has already been suspended once, back in 2019, for carelessly swinging his stick.
I highly doubt that will be the case. The Penguins only have eight games left in the season, they’re in a dogfight for seeding in the Metropolitan Division, and taking one of their stars out of the lineup for a handful of games likely isn’t going to happen.
Clearly, Malkin was frustrated with Borowiecki, and they were pushing and shoving as the horn sounded to end the second period.
Malkin first gave Borowiecki a heft two-handed slash to the pants, then followed that up with the cross-check to the face, which left Borowiecki bleeding as he left the ice.
Players must be in control of their stick – and their emotions – at all times.
What if Malkin’s cross-check broke Borowiecki’s jaw? That would have left the Predators without one of their defensemen as they begin the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Auston Matthews (2 games) and Ottawa’s Ridly Greig (2 preseason games) have already been suspended this season for cross-checking. This play is similar to Matthews in style, but Malkin got in an extra two-handed whack, and he has a history.
While it’s important to keep in mind that Malkin will not be considered a “repeat offender” for financial repercussions from Player Safety, they will still factor his previous suspension just over three years ago for disciplinary purposes.
A message needs to be sent that violently cross-checking opponents in the face will not be tolerated.
The Verdict
Peel’s Verdict: 3-game suspension for Evgeni Malkin.
The Precedent
Player: Feb. 12, 2019: Malkin suspended 1 game for high-sticking Philadelphia’s Michael Raffl.
Offense: March 13, 2022: Toronto’s Auston Matthews suspended 2 games for cross-checking Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin.
Sept. 26, 2021: Ottawa’s Ridly Greig suspended 2 games for cross-checking Pierre-Luc Dubois.
March 1, 2021: Edmonton’s Alex Chiasson suspended 1 game for cross-checking Jimmy Vesey.
Aug. 19, 2020: Philadelphia’s Matt Niskanen suspended 1 playoff game for cross-checking Brendan Gallagher.
Nov. 23, 2019: St. Louis’ Robert Bortuzzo suspended 4 games for cross-checking Viktor Arvidsson.
April 13, 2019: Toronto’s Nazem Kadri suspended 5 playoff games for cross-checking Jake DeBrusk.
Dec. 18, 2018: Edmonton’s Jujhar Khaira suspended 2 games for cross-checking Vince Dunn.
April 26, 2018: San Jose’s Evander Kane suspended 1 playoff game for cross-checking Pierre-Edouard Bellemare.
April 17, 2018: Winnipeg’s Josh Morrissey suspended 1 playoff game for cross-checking Eric Staal.
Nov. 25, 2017: Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog suspended 4 games for cross-checking Matthew Tkachuk.