Evgeni Malkin doesn’t believe Alex Ovechkin is going anywhere just yet.
After an emotional game full of fanfare that could be Ovechkin’s final home game, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ legendary center was asked how it felt to play against one of his biggest rivals and best friends for possibly the last time.
Malkin responded quite confidently, stating he doesn’t think this will be their last meeting on the ice.
“I mean, first of all, I do not believe this last game because I think he’s back next year, for sure,” Malkin told reporters. “He’s still hungry. He score 30-plus goals this year, and he love hockey. If last game, I love playing against him. I love being his friend. Again, enjoyed every moment. He’s greatest goal-scorer all-time. I play against him, I play with him, so much fun. He’s great husband and great friend, too.”
Ovechkin and Malkin have grown close as they’ve gotten older, with Malkin even calling Ovechkin his “best friend” in an interview last year. The two grew up in the Russian junior programs and were drafted number one and number two overall by their respective teams in the 2004 NHL Draft.
“I remember like 2006 first time we roommates in Olympic Games in Torino, I think,” Malkin said. “It’s so much fun and after we growing up fast and now 20 years after, he have kids, I have kid. We a little bit older, but I think we good friends. We support each other, we have good relationship with each other. If he need anything from my family, from me, I’m always open.”
There is reason to believe Malkin may have the most recent, true insight into what Ovechkin may be mulling over this summer. Ahead of Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh, the two were part of a large group of Russian and Belarusian players from the Capitals and Penguins who went out to dinner.
Ovechkin then returned the favor on Saturday night, hosting Malkin at his house for dinner and some hallway hockey with Ovi’s kids and the Protas brothers.
“Just we have quick dinner after flight here,” Malkin said. “I play with his kids. Kids excited to play against us. We talked about playoffs, we talked about hockey a little bit. It’s not first time we have dinner together. We have dinner in Pittsburgh as well, too, Wednesday. Again, it’s just so much fun.”
Malkin, along with Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, posed with Ovechkin for a photo during warmups before Sunday’s game. After the Capitals’ 3-0 win, Ovechkin then waved off Malkin and the rest of the Penguins, who had begun to line up for a handshake line.
Instead, Ovechkin met personally with Malkin and Crosby after getting off the ice, exchanging signed jerseys and sticks.
