By Shelly Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
By Keith Srakocic, AP
Alex Ovechkin, front, and Evgeni Malkin, the top two picks in the 2004 draft, are also the top two players in the scoring race.
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Two seasons ago, the Penguins-Washington rivalry was built around the rookie-of-the-year race between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, with the Capitals' Ovechkin edging Crosby for the Calder Trophy.
Last season, it turned into more of a two-against-one, with Crosby and Calder winner Evgeni Malkin standing as suitable rivals for Ovechkin.
This season, the Malkin-Ovechkin matchup has moved ahead. That is mostly because, going into the nationally televised game between the teams today in Washington, Ovechkin and Malkin are dueling for the NHL scoring title, with each trying to become the first Russian player to win it. Each also could be in line to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
When Ovechkin's name was mentioned after the Penguins' practice yesterday, Malkin broke into a wide grin. He slammed his fist into the palm of his other hand. "Ovechkin!" he said, then laughed.
It's a good-natured rivalry, one that heightened in the Capitals' 6-5 shootout win Jan. 21 at Mellon Arena. With Crosby out because of a high ankle sprain, Malkin and Ovechkin put on a show, flying up and down the ice. Each had two goals and an assist. Late in the first period, Malkin was behind the goal line in his end when Ovechkin came flying in. Malkin got out of the way, taking just a glancing blow while Ovechkin slammed into the boards.
"Yeah, last game was a good game," Malkin said in English, a language the shy forward is just now becoming a little comfortable speaking, whereas the outgoing Ovechkin has been a willing, smiling chatterbox since he arrived in North America.
Since that game and while stepping up in Crosby's absence, Malkin marched toward and overtook Ovechkin in the scoring race, although Ovechkin regained the lead with a strong week, including three goals, two assists Monday against Boston.
Ovechkin was held to an assist yesterday in Washington's 2-1 loss at Boston, leaving him at 93 points. Malkin has 89.
"We'd rather have Sid in the lineup, but [his injury] gave an opportunity to players to prove what they can do, and they responded very well, especially Malkin," Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. "He got in the race with Ovechkin. He stepped up his game really well."
Malkin has one goal, an empty-netter, in two games since Crosby's return, but could catch a spark playing against Ovechkin.
"Any guy who's competitive, when there's a little bit of a stage, you want to perform," Crosby said. "Both of those guys are competitive."
Malkin said Washington is more formidable because of Ovechkin.
"It's a hard game," he said. "Ovechkin's a good player, the best scorer in the NHL."
In his big game against Boston, his 67th this season, Ovechkin eclipsed the 50-goal mark and now has 54. He reached 50 the fastest of any player since 1995-96, when the Penguins' Jaromir Jagr did it in 59 games and Vancouver's Alexander Mogilny did it in 63.
"It's all players want to score 50 goals or something like that because it's very hard to do," Ovechkin said during a league-sponsored teleconference last week. "You know, it's NHL, and it's hard. Especially when you score 50 goals, you are happy. I'm actually happy, very happy right now."
The NHL has begun doting on Ovechkin, who has 152 goals in his two-plus seasons, the most of a player since the start of 2005-06.
"To score that many and be that consistent, that's big-time. He's a pure goal-scorer," said Crosby, who won the NHL scoring title and MVP last season and also is highly promoted by the league.
Ovechkin likely won't face Crosby and Malkin at the same time. Therrien put Malkin on Crosby's wing in a 5-2 loss Thursday night at Florida to try to kick-start his team, but Malkin was back at center with wingers Petr Sykora and Ryan Malone in practice yesterday.
Regardless of which Penguins stars go head-to-head with Ovechkin, all three could have a big game. Malkin has four goals, nine points in seven career games against Washington, Crosby five goals, 17 points in 10 games. Ovechkin has six goals, 13 points in 11 games against the Penguins.
While the Penguins are jockeying for first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference, the Capitals are fighting for their playoff lives in the Southeast Conference, which might send only its champion to the postseason.
Therrien hopes that doesn't give Washington an advantage.
"We're talking about scoring races, Ovechkin-Malkin, but ... Ovechkin's team, they are in their playoff mode because they're surviving to try to make the playoffs," Therrien said.
Shelly Anderson can be reached at shanderson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1721.
First published on March 9, 2008 at 12:00 am
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