Photo via Washington Life Magazine Facebook page

This doesn’t bring me the same amount of pure joy as Brooks Laich on the cover of Shy Magazine, but I’m still happy to bring you Alex Ovechkin and his fiancee Maria Kirilenko on the February cover of Washington Life Magazine. There is Sasha, wearing some fancy navy suit with a powder blue dress shirt, and his boo Masha, who is definitely wearing a dress (I’ll never be hired by E!), geeking out for the camera.

For the cover story, the crushin’ Russians spoke with former WUSA Sports Anchor and one-time EITM guy Brett Haber about how they first met, how they manage their relationship despite their travel schedules, and– oh yeah– the Olympics.

My favorite part of the article — which can be read online here — is Maria talking about where she sits at Caps games. Plus an update on her ice skating lessons.

Maria has become a fixture at Capitals games an ardent team supporter. She is a frequent invitee to Leonsis’ owner’s suite, but she prfers to sit in the seats at ice-level with Alex’s family. “When he scores he always looks for me and if I’m not there, he might get worried.”

To further demonstrate her commitment to being a hockey spouse, Maria has begun taking skating lessons from Donna Oates, wife of Caps head coach Adam Oates. Asked how she’s coming along, Kirilenko replies, “not good.”

Pick up yourself a copy of the magazine on news stands now!

Cover photo first tweeted out by @SergeyKocharov. Thanks to RMNB reader Mark H. for the heads up.