Bruins defenseman Penguins center fined for actions.
Nikita Zadorov and Evgeni Malkin will each write a check for their actions at the end of the first period of the Bruins’ 2-1 loss to the Penguins Friday at TD Garden.
Malkin was standing in front of the Bruins’ bench late in the first period, when Zadorov, who was sitting on the bench reached over the boards and jabbed him with his stick. That earned the Boston defenseman an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Malkin reacted angrily and swung his stick back at the Bruins bench and was called for slashing.
It could have been worse for Boston. If officials determined it had affected the play, Zadorov could have been giving an interference from the bench penalty which comes with an automatic game misconduct. Plus, had Malkin not retaliated the play would have led to a 2-minute 5-on-3 as Tyler Johnson was already headed for the box.
Malkin was asked if the two players had history between them leading to the play.
“We’re old friends, yeah, sure,” he said, sounding sarcastic about his fellow Russian. “I’m not going to say more about that.”
“Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin both have been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for unsportsmanlike conduct and slashing, respectively, during NHL Game No. 372 in Boston on Friday, Nov. 29, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
Can This Bruins Roster Score More? | Bruins Beat.
Evan Marinofsky and Conor Ryan discuss how the Bruins can improve their scoring numbers.
Evan Marinofsky and Conor Ryan are back with another episode of Bruins Beat! Today, they discuss the Bruins suffering another tough loss on Black Friday, continuing a string of heartbreaking defeats. Despite generating plenty of chances, the team still struggles to score, which remains a major concern as the season progresses. One glaring issue is the power play, which ranks among the worst in the league—addressing that could go a long way toward boosting the offense.
Meanwhile, questions remain about Jeremy Swayman’s form, as he hasn’t quite looked like himself recently. The Bruins will need him to return to his previous high level of play if they’re going to turn things around and stay competitive in a tough Eastern Conference.
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