Thursday night’s game between the Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins just got a little more expensive.
Kings forward Dustin Brown and Penguins center Evgeny Malkin were both fined for separate incidents in the game.
Malkin Fined for Spearing
Malkin was hit with a $5,000 fine for spearing Brown at 6:57 of the first period. No penalty was called on the play.
Brown Fined for Cross-Checking
At 6:36 of the third period, Brown got in trouble for a little stickwork of his own. The Kings forward cross-checked Pens defenseman Justin Schultz when the blueliner was on his knees along the boards. The league obviously felt this was a more egregious attack, going for the league maximum $10,000 fine. (Subsequent fines can go as high as $15,000, provided they don’t exceed 50% of a player’s daily salary, per section 18.7 of the CBA.)
“I don’t drive him through the wall or anything, but I also close in on the play,” said Brown. “At the most it’s probably a two[-minute penalty], I think.”
Brown was given a major penalty and a game misconduct for board by referees Chris Rooney and Pierre Lambert.
These fines come just days after Anaheim’s Andrew Cogliano was suspended two games for interference. Player Safety obviously felt Cogliano’s open-ice hit was exponentially worse than a deliberate stick to the groin or a cross-check from behind on a defenseless player.
This is one of the first head-scratchers since George Parros took over the league’s Department of Player Safety.
“If [Player Safety] chooses to not suspend Brown, given Cogliano ruling, the flak will go viral. And it has,” wrote Bob McKenzie. “Bottom line: Brown should have been suspended.”
Malkin’s salary of $9.7 million and Brown’s of $5.7 million undoubtedly make these fines a bit easier for them to stomach.
