Malkin doubles down on suspension-inducing swing at Raffl: I think he dove

Evgeni Malkin has mixed feelings about whether he deserved the suspension he served for high-sticking Michael Raffl.

"Yes and no," the Pittsburgh Penguins star told reporters, including the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey, on Thursday. "One game probably, it’s OK. I play dangerous. My stick went high. My point (to the NHL's Department of Player Safety) was that I didn’t touch his face. I touched his shoulder. I think (he dove)."

Malkin was forced to sit out Wednesday's win over the Edmonton Oilers after swinging his stick up high on the Philadelphia Flyers forward during Monday's game.

Prior to receiving the one-game ban, Malkin defended his actions, admitting it was "a little bit dangerous," but saying, "it's not like I broke his face."

Flyers head coach Scott Gordon called it a "baseball swing," when asked about it Thursday.