Malkin Addresses Hit On Oshie

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin for the first time described his hit Wednesday night that got him ejected from a game at Washington.

Malkin was given a major penalty and ejected after a third-period hit on the Capitals’ T.J. Oshie, who went through concussion protocol but was cleared and returned to score the deciding goal in a 2-1 Washington win. Oshie skated toward Malkin, and Makin’s shoulder caught Oshie up high.

“I’m happy he was back and not injured,” Malkin said Friday. “The game’s so fast. I had the puck. I passed to Sid (Crosby) and I see he’s coming. I think it’s not dirty. My elbow’s not high. My shoulder is in good position. I know he’s coming (toward) me and I a little bit turned my shoulder. I wasn’t trying to target his head. I just protected myself. A little bit of bad luck.”

Malkin knew it looked bad, but he did not receive supplementary discipline from the NHL.

“I understand Washington isn’t happy,” he said. “The league called me (Thursday). They said no suspension.

“He stayed on the ice five minutes. We see the league is trying to change the rules a little bit. We see my shoulder touch his head. They think it’s a bad hit. I think the referees didn’t see (the hit), but they look to Oshie, and Oshie’s on the ice, like, 10 minutes. They talked to each other. They kicked me out.”

It left Malkin frustrated.

“It’s not good for me,” he said. “It’s a tight game. I wanted to stay on the ice in the third period to help the team.”