Penguins Malkin Receives Four-Game Suspension

The National Hockey League has suspended superstar Penguins center Evgeni Malkin four games for his cross-check to the face of Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki on Sunday. Malkin’s actions were deemed “retaliatory and aggressive” by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.

It’s the second time Geno’s been suspended over the course of his 16-season career. He was previously suspended for a stick swinging incident in 2019.

He’ll miss a pair of upcoming home-and-home sets with the Islanders and the Bruins. Geno will be eligible to return for a matinee game on April 23 in Detroit. His absence likely means Jeff Carter will be elevated to second-line center, with Teddy Blueger centering the third line and Brian Boyle anchoring the fourth unit.

With eight games remaining in the regular season and the Pens battling to hold their place in the standings, the suspension comes at an inopportune time. It also leaves us short one forward. Anthony Angello and Radim Zohorna were recently shipped to the Baby Pens, perhaps to make room for Brock McGinn, who’s due to come off IR. Defenseman Mark Friedman can also play forward in a pinch.

In 37 games this season, Malkin’s tallied 17 goals and 37 points. Over half his production (eight goals and 19 points) have come on the power play. The rangy Russian has registered a team-worst minus-11, including a minus-eight over the past five games.

The Pens are 20-12-5 with Geno in the lineup and 22-10-5 without him. Although his absence will no doubt create a void offensively, given No. 71’s penchant for freelancing it’ll be interesting to see if our structure…ragged over the past couple of months…improves.