Pens' Malkin ejected for slashing, could face ban

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for slashing Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin in the head during the second period of Buffalo's 5-1 win Thursday.

Dahlin cross-checked Malkin near the Sabres' net, and Malkin responded by swinging his stick into Dahlin's face. Malkin then tried to drop his gloves and fight, but officials stepped in and ejected Malkin from the ice.

Dahlin received a minor penalty for cross-checking.

Penguins coach Dan Muse didn't comment on Malkin's penalty after the game.

The slash by Malkin could warrant supplementary discipline from the league. He has been suspended twice previously in his career -- a one-game ban for roughing in 2009 and a four-game suspension for cross-checking in 2022 -- so there is history that the NHL's Player Safety Department could factor into a decision.

"Hopefully, he served his time [Thursday] and that's it," defenseman Erik Karlsson said. "He's a big part of this team. He's been playing great hockey and gives us a different dimension to our offensive game."

The 39-year-old Malkin has been having a tremendous season with 13 goals and 47 points in 45 games as the Penguins are in a tight race for playoff position in the Metropolitan Division. Entering Thursday, they held the No. 2 seed; the New York Islanders were tied with them on points, but Pittsburgh had two games in hand.

Losing Malkin for any length of time would be another blow to the Penguins' top-six forward depth. They are already without captain Sidney Crosby while he rehabs a lower-body injury suffered while representing Team Canada at the Winter Olympics last month.

Pittsburgh initially said Crosby would be out four weeks.

If there's a chance Malkin will be out of the lineup and Crosby remains weeks away, Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas could be encouraged to acquire another forward before the NHL trade deadline Friday.

"I think we've shown throughout the year that we're a pretty deep team," Karlsson said. "We miss both of those guys, but it's nothing that we haven't done before."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.