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Evgeni Malkin Opens Up as His Best Friend Prepares to Dethrone Gretzky
Photo credit: USA Today sports
Pittsburgh Penguins future Hall of Famer Evgeni Malkin is opening up about his friend and fellow Russian Alexander Ovechkin's chase for Wayne Gretzky's goal record.
It won't be long before Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin becomes the all-time leading goal scorer in the National Hockey League.
He's less than 10 goals away from tying and overtaking Wayne Gretzky's mark of 894 goals, and it's a real possibility that he could achieve the feat in the final few weeks of the year before the playoffs begin next month.
Last month, Ovechkin's friend and fellow Russian Evgeni Malkin said that he wouldn't have believed that Gretzky's record was in real danger but now believes it's only a matter of time.
"I want to say maybe a couple years ago, I'm not believe he's broken the record. But now it's like no choice, of course, maybe not this year, but 100 percent next year.
He's Russian, he's born from Russia. It's good for everybody from Russia, I hope. And again, he's my best friend. I hope no injury to him, it's most important right now, everybody knows. And Washington play unbelievable. This big challenge in a game against Washington. We be ready, for sure."
He's Russian, he's born from Russia. It's good for everybody from Russia, I hope. And again, he's my best friend. I hope no injury to him, it's most important right now, everybody knows. And Washington play unbelievable. This big challenge in a game against Washington. We be ready, for sure."
Malkin and Ovechkin have played together internationally for Team Russia in the Olympic Games, though they've not had the chance to play together in recent years thanks to the complicated political climate and the prohibition of Russian athletes from participating in international competitions.
While they remain divisional foes as players on the Capitals and Penguins, it hasn't stopped their friendship.
Ovechkin has 42 career goals against the Penguins during his career.
| POLL | ||
MARS 23 | 156 ANSWERS Evgeni Malkin Opens Up as His Best Friend Prepares to Dethrone Gretzky Which player would you rather have as a rookie if you were starting an expansion NHL franchise? | ||
| Alex Ovechkin | 85 | 54.5 % |
| Evgeni Malkin | 71 | 45.5 % |
| List of polls | ||