The Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins were once both the toast of the Eastern Conference, but both franchises have fallen on difficult times of late – especially the Penguins. But that didn’t stop things from getting feisty during Friday night’s 2-1 victory by the Penguins over the Bruins at TD Garden.

The NHL hopes that Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Zadorov learned a lesson Saturday morning. The league issues the maximum $5,000 fine to each for an incident near the end of the first period Friday as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 at TD Garden.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000 by the NHL for slashing Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei during a game on Friday. The league announced the fine - as well as an identical fine to Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov - on Saturday.

Friday's matchup between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins had plenty of dramatics despite being a modest three-goal event. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety involved itself Saturday.

Nikita Zadorov has already faced plenty of discipline on the ice this season and now is receiving more from the league’s Department of Player Safety. The Boston Bruins defenseman was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA,

NHL Player Safety has announced that Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov has been fined $5,000, which is the maximum alllowable under the CBA, for unsportsmanlike conduct. View the original article to see embedded media.