Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin have a storied history together as friends and enemies. They were drafted one-two in the 2004 NHL draft, were teammates on the Russian National squad, and also had a storied beef that carried to the ice after Ovi punched Geno’s agent in a nightclub.
But Tuesday nights game in Pittsburgh could cement another link between the two, as both are gunning for historic point totals. Malkin needs two points to reach 1,000, while Ovi needs one to hit 1,200.
Evgeni Malkin could reach 1,000 NHL points and Alex Ovechkin could reach 1,200 NHL points in the same game.
Entering tonight, Malkin has 998 points (391 goals, 607 assists) in 847 games.
Ovechkin has 1,199 points (653 goals, 546 assists) in 1,071 games.
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) March 12, 2019
Ovi’s 1,000th point came against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017 on home ice, and it would be poetic justice if Malkin performed the same task on home ice against the rival Caps.
When asked about the potential for both players to hit new records tonight, Ovi said he’d be happy for Geno, even if it didn’t happen tonight.
Ovechkin says he'll be happy for Malkin when he reaches 1,000 points: "If not tonight, maybe tomorrow."
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) March 12, 2019
Penguins coach Mike Sullivan also knows the implications of Malkin reaching 1,000 points, saying that he doesn’t get the credit he should outside of the Pittsburgh area.
Sullivan: "Geno … probably gets overlooked and doesn't get the credit he deserves." Says he thinks Malkin does get that credit in Pittsburgh, but not elsewhere. #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) March 12, 2019
Should both complete the feat tonight, Malkin would be the 88th player to hit 1,000, joining Ovechkin and teammate Sidney Crosby. Ovi would be the 49th player in NHL history to hit 1,200.
Headline photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America
