Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was suspended five games by the NHL as a result of a slash that struck the head of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

The league announced the punitive measure Friday evening

During the Sabres’ 5-1 win Thursday at PPG Paints Arena, Malkin and Dahlin became entangled near the Sabres’ net 38 seconds into the second period.

Dahlin cross checked Malkin a handful of times, prompting Malkin to swing his stick downward, making contact with the right side of Dahlin’s helmet, then his right shoulder.

Malkin separated for a moment, then dropped his gloves, attempting to fight Dahlin before Dahlin bowed away, holding his face.

Malkin was assessed a game misconduct as well as major and minor penalties for slashing. In total, he accrued 17 minutes in penalties for the outburst.

Dahlin, who was assessed a minor penalty for cross checking, did not appear to suffer a substantial injury and completed the game.

The NHL explained the criteria for its decision in a video.

“Dahlin and Malkin engage by the Sabres’ goal, with Dahlin cross checking Malkin, for which he was penalized,” a narrator said. “Then, facing Dahlin, Malkin steadies himself, brings his stick up with both hands and swings it downward onto Dahlin, striking him in the helmet and shoulder. This is slashing.

“It is important to note this is not the case of an off-balance player bringing his stick down without control, a result of a player whose movements were directly influenced by the opposing player, nor is it a case of a careless player accidentally making contact with an opponent.

“This is an intentional stick swing that strikes an opponent at a dangerous height and is delivered with requisite force for supplemental discipline.”

This is not Malkin’s first encounter with supplemental discipline, a factor the NHL considers when determining punitive measures. Over his 20-year NHL career, he has been suspended twice and fined on five occasions.

The league noted several of Malkin’s infractions that have led to supplemental discipline have involved stick-related penalties. As recently as Nov. 2, he was fined $5,000 for slashing Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley.

The soonest he can return to the lineup is for a road contest against the Colorado Avalanche on March 16.

During this suspension, Malkin will forfeit $158,854.15. That money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund, an endeavor that aids former players facing financial hardship.

This season, Malkin is the Penguins’ second-leading scorer with 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 46 games while averaging 17 minutes, 29 seconds of ice time.