Kings’ Dean Lombardi: Not mad about Malkin hit but....

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To the surprise of no one who watches the NHL regularly and has seen it apply a double standard of justice for enforcers and stars, league muckymucks fined but did not suspend scoring leader Evgeni Malkin for his nasty hit to the head of Kings winger Wayne Simmonds in the waning seconds of the Penguins’ 4-1 victory over the Kings Friday at Pittsburgh.

Malkin participated in a hearing with league officials by telephone Saturday and emerged with only an undisclosed fine. Here’s a video of the hit in question:

I hate to agree on anything with bombastic Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry, but I agree that this was an unnecessary hit to the head at a time the game had long been decided.

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi had this reaction:

‘I am not angry about the lack of suspension for the Malkin hit as long as the league is consistent with its rulings. If this is legal then my biggest concern is we learn what response is appropriate as we learn to be a team.

‘Then again if it is legal, given the time and score, we need to learn the appropriate response to demonstrate what it means to be a teammate.’

Translation: a rookie got hit hard in the head late in a game that was already lost and no one stood up for him except for a few words from Raitis Ivanans.

And because no one stood up for him, other teams will try this again and again. Until the Kings push back. If they ever do--which might not happen until a few bodies are moved around on their roster.

--Helene Elliott