"I didn't hit him in the face," Malkin told The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "If I had touched him in the face, for sure, I would get suspended. It's a high stick, but it's not like I broke his face. I think I won't get suspended."
Following the play, Malkin was given a five-minute major and was ejected from the game. Meanwhile, Raffl wasn't assessed a penalty despite appearing to punch the Pens center in the back of the head.
"It was a little bit dangerous," Malkin added of his stick swing. "But nothing real bad, I didn't think. It's my fault, for sure. The refs thought it was dangerous. Next time, I need to play smarter."
Monday was Malkin's first game since Jan. 30 after being sidelined with an upper-body injury. In 51 contests this season, the 32-year-old has recorded 56 points.
The NHL regular season is quickly coming to an end and several teams remain in the hunt for the final playoff positions with just eight weeks remaining. In anticipation of what's to come, let's look at three postseason series we would love to see.
A battle between hockey's two most historic franchises is long overdue. It's been 40 years since these Original Six rivals met in the postseason and the time may finally be right for an epic showdown. Both organizations made major changes over the last few years and each team is playing at a very high level.
If this year's regular-season contests - two overtime thrillers - are any indication of what a playoff series would look like, fasten your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride. Speed, skill, and nearly 100 years of bad blood make for must-see TV.
The Maple Leafs have been considered among the Stanley Cup favorites since signing John Tavares this offseason, while the Canadiens entered the campaign appearing closer to the draft lottery than a playoff position.
But career seasons from Max Domi and Johnathan Drouin, incredible play from netminder Carey Price, and the return of rearguard Shea Weber have lifted the ceiling for a young Canadiens team that would give Toronto a serious headache over a seven-game playoff series.
The bad blood is real between these two Western Conference heavyweights, and it was best highlighted in an 8-5 Flames win at the Saddledome on New Year's Eve.
With what had been an extremely hostile contest reaching its conclusion and the result not in doubt, Flames forward Sam Bennett landed a late hit on Sharks defenseman Radim Simek, sparking outrage from San Jose. The clubs combined for 64 penalty minutes during the game's final 41 seconds.
Through three contests this season, the teams combined for 23 goals, 106 hits, and 110 penalty minutes. If that doesn't sound like a recipe for exciting playoff hockey, we're not sure what does.
Of all the Stanley Cup Final rematches in play, this one seems the most likely to happen, and also comes with elevated stakes. The 2004 final will forever be remembered for Martin Gelinas' no-goal in Game 6, and the Flames have never been so well-equipped to gain retribution. On the flip side, the Lightning appear due for a championship, as they have for a few years now.
In a season marked by an uptick in goal-scoring, the Lightning and Flames each rank in the NHL's top three with 3.80 and 3.67 goals per game, respectively. Each dynamic offense features three players with 60 or more points, and combine to offer six of the league's top-20 scorers this season.
The Lightning have been the best regular-season team for back-to-back campaigns and have made three conference final appearances and one Stanley Cup Final appearance this decade - losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015. The Flames, on the other hand, have struggled to maintain a consistent playoff presence and have just one playoff series win to their name since the aforementioned 2004 final.
Not convinced? Well, you won't have to wait long to see, as these two juggernauts will do battle Tuesday night in Tampa Bay.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) Matt Murray made 50 saves and Sidney Crosby had a goal and a two assists to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night.
Jake Guentzel and Nick Bjugstad also scored and Kris Letang had an empty-netter for the Penguins, who snapped a four-game losing streak while winning for just the fourth time in the last 12. Pittsburgh entered holding the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jakub Voracek scored for Philadelphia, which lost for just the second time in 11 games. The Flyers could've pulled within four points of Pittsburgh with a victory, but now stand eight points behind the Penguins.
Flyers rookie goalie Carter Hart had his eight-game win streak halted, falling one game shy of setting an NHL record for consecutive victories prior to turning 21 years old. The 20-year-old also finished a game short of tying Pelle Lindbergh for the Flyers' rookie record for wins in a row. Hart had 24 saves.
Murray was a wall for the Penguins, withstanding an offensive flurry by Philadelphia that included a franchise-record 28 shots in the second period.
Crosby put the Penguins up 1-0 with a fluky goal with 11:41 left in the first period. Hart lost sight of the puck behind the net and it caromed off the glass to Crosby to the right of the crease. With Hart still looking the other way, Crosby shot into the empty half of the net for his 24th of the season and 40th goal in 65 career games against Philadelphia. The Penguins' star has scored against the Flyers more than any other team.
Bjugstad made it 2-0 7:04 into the second with a wrist shot from a sharp angle, an uncharacteristically soft goal for Hart. It was the sixth of the season for Bjustad and his first with the Penguins since being acquired from Florida on Feb. 1.
The Flyers appeared to score with 7:07 left in the second when Nolan Patrick's rebound crossed the goal line, but the referee whistled the play dead when he thought Murray had gloved Travis Konecny's initial shot.
Guentzel scored on a wraparound with 5:14 remaining in the third to make it 3-0. It was the team-leading 27th goal for Guentzel.
Voracek finally got Philadelphia on the board 40 seconds later on the power play, when he lifted the puck over Murray from close range.
The Flyers gained the man-advantage when Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin received a match penalty with 4:54 left for hitting Michael Raffl in the head with his stick. Malkin returned after missing five straight games due to an upper body injury and had an assist.
NOTES: Pittsburgh D Olli Maatta didn't return after being checked into the boards by Phil Varone with six minutes left in the first. . The teams will next play each other on Feb. 23 in an outdoor game at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. The season series is tied 1-1, as the Flyers won 4-2 ON Dec. 1 in Pittsburgh. . Hart was the seventh different Flyers goalie, including six starters, to appear in the last seven meetings against Pittsburgh. ... Letang passed Paul Coffey for most goals by a Penguins defenseman.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: Play the first of three straight at home against Edmonton on Wednesday.
Philadelphia: At Minnesota on Tuesday.
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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Neither of the picks originally belonged to the teams trading them; the selection sent to Montreal was the Arizona Coyotes' and the pick going to Los Angeles came from the Calgary Flames.
Thompson has suited up in 53 games for the Kings this season, recording four points in 12:55 per contest while winning 53 percent of his draws. He'll likely slot in as the Canadiens' fourth-line center.
The 34-year-old carries a cap hit of $1.65 million before hitting unrestricted free agency at season's end.
Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Buy low on Patrik Laine
Team: Jets Position: LW/RW Ownership: 99 percent
Laine has just two goals in his last 24 games and is on pace for career worsts in goals and points, despite generating the same amount of scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances that he did during his 44-goal campaign a year ago.
However, with ample cap space this season before things get tight in the summer, you can bet the Jets will be in heavy pursuit of a top rental candidate at the trade deadline - such as Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, or Artemi Panarin - to add to their second line and help ignite Laine, as Paul Stastny did a year ago.
Pick up Dylan Strome
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Team: Blackhawks Position: C Ownership: 23 percent
What a difference a change of scenery can make. Strome has 30 points in 32 games since joining the Blackhawks after tallying just six points in 20 games in a sheltered fourth-line role with the Coyotes. The Blackhawks' second line featuring Strome and OHL teammate Alex DeBrincat is humming right now during the club's hot streak, led by Strome's 14 points in seven games. He needs to be owned everywhere.
Add Tyler Toffoli
Team: Kings Position: RW Ownership: 25 percent
Toffoli, who's been a victim of a low on-ice shooting percentage all season, is finally starting to have some bounces go his way, as he's registered six goals - as well as four assists - over his last nine games. He could be in line for some more ice time if Los Angeles manages to trade some of its veteran forwards before the deadline.
Take advantage of Anders Nilsson's hot streak
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Team: Senators Position: G Ownership: 10 percent
Nilsson is 6-2-0 with a .949 save percentage over his last eight games. Unlike most teams hovering near the bottom of the standings, the Senators have the incentive to win since they don't own their first-round pick this year. The veteran netminder's strong play likely has an expiration date, but fantasy owners should ride his hot streak while it lasts.
Cut ties with Corey Perry
Team: Ducks Position: RW Ownership: 27 percent
Perry has struggled since re-joining the slumping Ducks after preseason knee surgery, tallying just one assist with a minus-6 rating in five games. Think about how long it took the Maple Leafs' William Nylander to get back up to speed after holding out the first two months of the season. Nylander is over a decade younger than Perry - who already showed signs of decline over the last two seasons - and was fully healthy. Now that the 33-year-old is playing catch up in a younger man's game, the chances of him hitting his stride at any point this season are awfully slim. He isn't worth owning even in 16-team leagues.
Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports
Senators receive
Canucks receive
G Anders Nilsson
G Mike McKenna
F Darren Archibald
F Tom Pyatt
6th-round pick (2019)
Dec. 30: Oilers deal for Manning
Oilers receive
Blackhawks receive
D Brandon Manning
D Jason Garrison
D Robin Norell
F Drake Caggiula
Dec. 30: Oilers acquire Petrovic
Oilers receive
Panthers receive
D Alexander Petrovic
D Chris Wideman
3rd-round pick (2019)
Dec. 29: Leafs add Hutchinson
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Maple Leafs receive
Panthers receive
G Michael Hutchinson
5th-round pick (2020)
Dec. 28: Ducks send Fiore to Arizona
Ducks receive
Coyotes receive
D Trevor Murphy
F Giovanni Fiore
Dec. 10: Ducks trade Olesky to Toronto
Maple Leafs receive
Ducks receive
D Steve Oleksy
F Adam Cracknell
Dec. 5: Pens, Sens make 4-player swap
Penguins receive
Senators receive
D Macoy Erkamps
D Stefan Elliott
F Ben Sexton
F Tobias Lindberg
Dec. 3: Ducks get Sprong
Ducks receive
Penguins receive
F Daniel Sprong
D Marcus Petterson
Dec. 3: Canucks acquire Leivo
Canucks receive
Maple Leafs receive
F Josh Leivo
F Michael Carcone
Nov. 27: Leafs send Nielsen to Calgary
Maple Leafs receive
Flames receive
F Morgan Klimchuk
D Andrew Nielsen
Nov. 25: Dylan Strome traded to Chicago
Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Blackhawks receive
Coyotes receive
F Dylan Strome
F Nick Schmaltz
F Brendan Perlini
Nov. 22: Oilers acquire Wideman
Oilers receive
Senators receive
D Chris Wideman
Conditional pick (2020)
Notes:Senators will get the pick Edmonton received from St. Louis in the Jakub Jerabek trade.
Nov. 21: Kings, Wild make minor deal
Kings receive
Wild receive
F Pavel Jenys
D Stepan Falkovsky
Nov. 16: Ryan Strome traded to Rangers
Rangers receive
Oilers receive
F Ryan Strome
F Ryan Spooner
Nov. 14: Penguins swap Hagelin for Pearson
Joe Sargent / National Hockey League / Getty
Penguins receive
Kings receive
F Tanner Pearson
F Carl Hagelin
Nov. 10: Fedun traded to Dallas
Stars receive
Sabres receive
Taylor Fedun
Conditional 7th-round pick (2020)
Notes: Sabres get the pick if Fedun plays in more than 25 games during the 2018-19 season.
Oct. 18: Lightning get Hults
Lightning receive
Ducks receive
F Mitch Hults
Future Considerations
Oct. 3: Olofsson dealt to Montreal
Canadiens receive
Wild receive
D Gustav Olofsson
F William Bitten
Oct. 1: Predators acquire Baptiste
Predators receive
Sabres receive
F Nicholas Baptiste
D Jack Dougherty
Oct. 1: Flames trade Kulak to Montreal
Canadiens receive
Flames receive
D Brett Kulak
D Matt Taormina
D Rinat Valiev
Oct. 1: Leafs deal Carrick to Stars
Stars receive
Maple Leafs receive
D Connor Carrick
Conditional 7th-round pick (2019)
Notes:The pick becomes a 6th rounder if Carrick plays at least 50 games in the 2018-19 season.
Oct. 1: Oilers send Jerabek to St. Louis
Blues receive
Oilers receive
D Jakub Jerabek
6th-round pick (2020)
Sept. 13: Sharks acquire Karlsson
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Sharks receive
Senators receive
D Erik Karlsson
F Chris Tierney
F Francis Perron
F Rudolfs Balcer
D Dylan DeMelo
Right to F Joshua Norris
1st-round pick (2019 or 2020)
2nd-round pick (2019)
Conditional 1st- or 2nd-round pick (2021)
Conditional 1st-round pick (2022)
Notes: San Jose's 2019 1st-round pick will go to Buffalo if the Sharks make the playoffs this season. If San Jose misses the playoffs, Ottawa gets the 2019 1st-round pick. If the Sharks make the playoffs, the Senators get San Jose's 2020 1st-round pick. The Senators get the better of San Jose or Florida's 2nd-round pick in 2019, both of which are owned by the Sharks. Ottawa gets a 1st-round pick in 2021 or 2022 if Karlsson is traded back to the Eastern Conference. If the Sharks re-sign Karlsson or make the Stanley Cup Final, the 2nd-round pick in 2021 becomes a 1st-round pick.
