Evgeni Malkin to Have Hearing for Cross-Checking Mark Borowiecki

The Pittsburgh Penguins may be without Evgeni Malkin for a game or more after he angrily cross-checked Nashville Predators defenseman Mark Borowiecki. Per an NHL Tweet, the center will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday evening.

The DoPS did not specifically list the hearing as an in-person hearing, which typically means any suspension will be less than five games. A fine is also a possible outcome.

Update: Malkin has been suspended. Get the news story here– Evgeni Malkin Gets 4 Games.

The incident occurred at the end of the second period in the Penguins’ 3-2 OT win over the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena. Borowiecki slashed Malkin, who returned the slash and then cross-checked Borowiecki in the face.

Borowiecki left the ice surface and immediately went to the locker room with the trainer, even as players remained on the bench to learn the penalties.

Officials appeared to review the play before assessing a four-minute penalty to Malkin. They also gave Borowiecki two minutes for slashing.

Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin will have a hearing this evening for Cross-checking Nashville’s Mark Borowiecki.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 11, 2022

Evgeni Malkin was suspended in 2019 for high-sticking Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl. Malkin swung his stick wildly but didn’t connect.

The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the New York Islanders on Tuesday night with a chance to clinch a playoff berth for a 16th straight season. It is currently the longest streak in North American sports. The Penguins rallied to beat Nashville when Sidney Crosby scored in overtime. Crosby had two goals and an assist to reach the 1400 point plateau, the seventh-fastest player in NHL history to do so.