The Pittsburgh Penguins walked away as winners over the Boston Bruins, but not before things got chippy between the two teams. Late in the opening period, Pengu

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.

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,

The NHL has fined Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov $5,000 each for their roles in a bench altercation during Friday night’s game at TD Garden.

With 22 seconds remaining in the period, Boston defenseman Zadorov jabbed Malkin with his stick from the Boston bench. Malkin retaliated with a turning one-handed stick swing, perhaps hitting Zadorov on the helmet.

Bruins' change of coach from Jim Montgomery to interim bench boss Joe Sacco leads bruising Zadorov to step up own game and seek the same from teammates.

Nikita Zadorov is embracing the Bruins’ reset. “I thought we were playing soft the first 20 games,” said the big defenseman

During the off-season, the Boston Bruins signed defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a six-year, $30 million contract. With the Bruins needing an upgrade on the left side of their defense and more overall toughness, it made sense that the Bruins brought him in.

A controversial incident on Friday night has resulted in disciplinary action against both Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Zadorov.

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.

The penalties at the end of the first period between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins will probably cost at least one player a few dollars after the NHL Department of Player Safety gets a good look.