Malkin suspended 5 games for slashing Dahlin in face

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was given a five-game suspension for slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin in the face, the NHL announced Friday.

Early in the second period of Thursday's game, Malkin responded to a cross-check from Dahlin by swinging his stick directly into the defenseman's face. Malkin received a match penalty and was ejected.

The NHL Department of Player Safety called his actions "intentional" and said that Malkin's slash was "delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline."

This is the second time in Malkin's career that he's been suspended by the NHL for a stick-related incident; he received a one-game ban in 2019 after committing a similar foul that also resulted in a match penalty.

Malkin, 39, has tallied 13 goals and 47 points along with 51 penalty minutes over 46 games for the Penguins this season.