Can someone explain to me if Russian superstars Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are friends or not? First, they were doods. Then they were enemies. Then Ovi punched Malkin’s agent in the face and things got super awkward. Then they were cool again. When we last re-visited their on-again-off-again whatever-it-is-they-have, they were totally BFF.

Look at these guys. They’re straight cheesin.’

On Wednesday, however, the future Olympic teammates got testy in head-to-head NHL action, Ovechkin slashed Malkin’s wrists. He nearly took off Malkin’s hand, Empire Strikes Back style.

For a moment, I imagined a future headline: Ovechkin Breaks Olympic Teammate’s Wrist, Discusses with Matt Lauer on Today Show. But Malkin ended up being okay and didn’t miss a shift.

I ask again: are these guys friends? Is Russia comfortable with them on the same team? The same line? If Malkin grabs the last bottle of Coke from the hospitality tent in Sochi, is Ovechkin gonna let it slide? Or will we have a sports.ru exclusive about how Ovechkin and Malkin rumbled in the Olympic Village?

Malkin and Ovechkin’s On Ice Friendship