NHL Player Safety Announces Rulings on Nikita Zadorov and Evgeni Malkin
The NHL DPoS has announced they've fined both Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Zadorov for their actions.
During the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins game on Friday, Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Zadorov ended up leaving the game with more than just some heat between the two, as the NHL has decided to punish both players.
Per the NHL Department of Player Safety account on X, both men received fines for their actions.
It seems that Malkin did not take too kindly to being poked on the ice from a player on the bench and decided to whip his stick and slash the offender. The Bruins bench were irate as they screamed at officials to make a call.
The Penguins must have been frustrated with how the season has turned out, and Malkin is no exception. Both he and Sidney Crosby have reached incredible career milestones but have really nothing to show for it this season.
With trade rumors, a struggling team, and a coach on the hot seat; it's understandable how frustrations boiled over for Malkin. Pittsburgh did come away with the 2-1 win however, so at the end of the night Malkin can at least take solace in getting a win.
Malkin has 5 goals and 17 assists this season for the Penguins, and has been speculated as a potential trade name as the Penguins look towards a rebuild.
This win brought the Penguins to a 9-12-4 record as Kyle Dubas and company try to figure out how to best navigate their future; it's a stunning turnaround from a team that wasn't necessarily expected to be this bad, but have had a brutal start so far.
Boston is a team also dealing with their own struggles, and having recently fired their head coach, it's safe to say the turnaround hasn't been exactly what they were hoping for.
After hiring Joe Sacco to try and turn things around, Boston has gone 3-2-0, but they are still miles away from the dominance they used to be at. They sit a 11-11-3 and are the definition of an average team. Win one, lose one, sitting at .500 and spinning their wheels in the mud.
Zadorov on the other hand signed with the Bruins in free agency on a huge deal but suffice to say he hasn't lived up to his end of the deal. He and Malkin have a bit of history, as Zadorov alluded to post game.
FAQ: Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Zadorov Issued Fines
Q1: Why were both players issues fines after the game?
A1: Both players were fined after the game due to Malkin slashing Mason a Bruins player after Zadorov poked Malkin in the back while sitting on the bench. Malkin received a slashing call and Zadorov an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Q2: What was the fine amount given to each man?
A2: Both men were given the maximum allowable $5,000 fine, which given how much money both men have made, can be seen as a very minor punishment.
In closing, Nikita Zadorov ended up trying to literally poke the bear that is Evgeni Malkin and it ended up with his teammate getting attacked as collateral. For as laid back as Malkin is off the ice, when he plays it's a different story as the Bruins found out.
Maybe they'll think twice about making the man they call 'Geno' angry again.
| POLL | ||
Should the NHL have suspended Malkin for his slash or Zadorov for poking from the bench? | ||
| Yes | 276 | 64.6 % |
| No | 151 | 35.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
