“We always have drama in games with Washington.” Malkin on the battle against Ovechkin

Ovi goes for a fifty

Pittsburgh’s game against Washington is a timeless classic. And now the plot was even cooler. Because the Capitals still had a slim chance of making the playoffs. True, for this it was necessary to beat Pittsburgh on its site. After all, it is the main competitor.

Alas, “Washington” this season is so bad that it was not possible to implement a bold plan. At the start of the third period, the guests were already down 0:2. And before they had time to leave the locker room on the ice, Jake Guntzel converted the majority, already making it 3:0.

Then the Washington made the perfect storm. Distinguished Tom Wilson, Alexander Ovechkin and Dylan Stroum. Alexander the Great scored on the power play with a mighty click in signature style. It is Ovechkin’s 822nd career goal. He is 72 goals behind Wayne Gretzky.

Granted, Pittsburgh ended up leaving Washington without a playoff. The decisive goal was scored by Evgeni Malkin, when he absolutely epically took the puck from the gaping Anthony Manta and ran straight to zero on the goalie.

But here’s what we see: With eight games to go, Ovechkin needs to score eight goals before the fifty-kopeck coin. Score 50 career goals for the tenth time, passing Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy (9 each).

It’s a very cool story. The following games remain in Washington: March 29 – Islanders (h), March 30 – Tampa (h), April 2 – Rangers (h), April 6 – Montreal (h), April 8 – Florida (h), April 10 – Islanders (h), April 11 – Boston (h), April 13 – New Jersey (h).

Hopefully Ovechkin can make history again.

Evgeni Malkin: ‘I scored my signature goal’

And after the game in the Pittsburgh locker room, our correspondent Oleg Mezheritsky met with Evgeni Malkin.

Was this game like a playoff game? You and Washington often played playoffs.

— It seems to me that every game we play is like a playoff. And in every game there is always some kind of drama. Either fights, then Ovi, as always, will run one-on-one, or maybe he’ll score in the majority. Lots of moments and lots of struggle.

This match was also difficult. Two teams are vying for the playoffs. Of course, these two points are very important at the end of the season. This game turned out to be interesting, attacking from both sides. We knew “Washington” would also attack.

Thank God we won. Although in the third period they didn’t play quite right…

– Well, again, the score of 3:0 turned into 3:3.

– We gave Washington a chance to get back into the game.

– But the spectators in the stands were really worried, as if it was the fifth game of the playoff series.

– It’s true, because for us now every game is like a playoff. Because we, you might say, are not guaranteed a spot in the playoff zone. We are close and we have to strike, and the fans are chasing us. Of course, everyone wants to get into the playoffs and fans dream of the season continuing.

Playing the playoffs is a special feeling. It is a particular tension. It seems to me that everyone understood the importance of these two points for the team in the battle against Washington. Especially since we’re playing at home against the Capitals. No words are needed here. National television shows it to us, everything is first class.

“Do you remember in 2017 you were leading 3-0, then you threw the puck twice and Washington won.

Yes, there was something like that. And we there, it seems, threw the puck through the glass three times, grabbing the moves. And then it all happened in overtime.

Something similar, of course. But that’s what our showdown is famous for, that there’s always some kind of drama at the end. And the matches are always tight, with one or two goals. And such tension, and interesting offensive hockey. Both teams play very well in the majority, they like to play with the puck. Therefore, we have a similar style. And it should be noted “Washington” that he did not give up until the end. Playing three goals is, of course, a great respect for them.

– Tell us how you intercepted Anthony Manta’s puck in the penultimate minute with the score 3:3, ran away and managed to score. Did it happen by chance or did you read Manta?

– To be honest, I saw that he was going to beat. After all, he was practically the last and somehow acted imposing. At that time, the defenders went to change. Clearly Manta could beat me. But maybe he didn’t expect me to hit him like that. I seized the moment, and I had a two-handed club. And it was clear in his movement that he was going to clean the puck under him. I just played before the game, threw the stick and when the puck flew forward I realized I was going one on one. I saw that their defenders were tired, they were going to change.

– Well, and throw it?

— By the way, in the last game I also tried to score when we went “two against one” with Zucker. I also felt like moving a bit to the right and throwing under the pancake. But the goalkeeper calmly read this moment and pushed it away.

And here, as I thought, it happened. The goalkeeper moved away from me to the right and slightly opened the corner. I like to throw under the crepe like that, and that’s what I did. In addition, he himself was a little tired, it was the end of the shift. Clearly I didn’t want to beat – I just went to throw. And you can tell I played it in my corporate style.

NHL. Regular season

Pittsburgh Penguins (Pittsburgh) – Washington Capitals (Washington) – 4:3 (0:0, 2:0, 2:3)

Goals: Pauling, 30:10. Ruvedel 32:17. Gunzel, 40:27 (bol.). Malkin, 58:40. —Wilson, 45:19. Ovechkin, 53:18 (bol.). Strome, 57:16.

Source : MatchTV

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