Last weekend was rather rough for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team faced two consecutive damning defeats at the hands of sworn rivals, the Washington Capitals, ending the three-game winning streak. The only relief for the Penguins is that the losses came after the team had already clinched a playoff spot.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin had a point each in the two games against the Penguins, showing no signs of slowing down. Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin, at least, does not buy the theory that Ovi’s retirement could be just around the corner.
Pittsburgh Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin Dismisses Alex Ovechkin’s Retirement Possibility
The Capitals poured cold water on the Penguins’ hot streak by clinching two back-to-back wins, 6-3 and 3-0, on April 11 and 12, respectively. For the first game, the Pens were woefully short-handed, with several stars, including Sidney Crosby, Malkin, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson, missing.
But even when the Penguins showed up in their entire glory in the second game, Washington still managed to have the last laugh with a shutout.
Beyond the outcome of the game, as the regular season approaches its end, questions loom about whether the NHL world has seen the last of Ovi’s epic rivalry with Crosby, which has animated the league season after season. Moreover, if the noise surrounding Ovechkin’s retirement turns out to be true, then the Capitals may have seen the last of their captain’s exploits at the Capital One Arena on April 12.
However, Malkin dismissed the odds of the veteran center hanging up his skates after this season. In a rare media interaction, the Penguins forward squarely stated that he does not believe that the Ovechkin-NHL partnership has run its course. Malkin claimed that a player like Ovi is always hungry for more and will return next season.
“He’s back next year, for sure. He’s still hungry,” the Penguins veteran commented in an interaction with Taylor Haase.
Ovechkin’s five-year, $47.5 million contract is expiring soon, and the veteran Capitals center will need to decide his future. Previously, he underlined that how his body feels will play a massive role in how his future looks in the league. Until Ovechkin provides a conclusive answer, discourse surrounding his next step will continue.
Despite the noise, Ovi has maintained that he will likely decide in the offseason. His refusal to shake hands with Crosby and others after Washington’s 3-0 shutout victory also fanned hopes in the minds of fans about a possible return. However, he quickly clarified that he is still undecided. “Because I haven’t decided yet. Thanks to them, to wait up there, but I’m going to see Sid right now, after the interview, and Geno.”
For now, Ovechkin is focused on fighting tooth and nail with the Capitals to salvage the small margin the team has for making the playoffs. Even with one regulation game left, Washington could qualify for the playoffs if it wins the game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and if the Philadelphia Flyers, just one place above the Capitals, lose both their games against the Carolina Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens.
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