Show Malkin Some Love

Jonathan Farzalo | Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 7, 09:23 PM | Hype this story!

For three years now Pittsburgh and Washington matchups have been tagged, “Crosby vs Ovechkin”, with good reason, they’re both young elite superstars in the National Hockey League who began their professional careers in America the year after the lock-out. This Sunday, it’s time Evgeni Malkin get’s some love, and that he gets it while Sidney Crosby is IN the lineup.

Looking at past games, here’s how Sidney and Alexander have done against each other.

Crosby – 5 goals, 12 assists, 17 points, 9 wins
Alex O – 4 goals, 05 assists, 09 points, 1 win

Not exactly your front-page billing, but the hockey media must latch onto something. It’s just two guys who play the game of hockey amazingly well, yet from different perspectives. Yes, Crosby has an incredible 17 points in 10 games, almost a 2-point per game ratio…while Ovechkin has 9-points in that span, no slouch either. Crosby and the Penguins have clearly dominated the Capitals and Ovechkin in those three years, and that’s not a rivalry. But the box score isn’t really the tale here. When these two go head-to-head something turns on in their minds, they just want to outperform the other, show their competition what they’re made of; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

The last meeting these two teams had was while Sid was out, and it was instantly branded “Ovechkin vs Malkin”. Given that they are both from Russia and were drafted in the same year, going 1-2 (respectively) in that draft, comparing them seems logical, and has a built in rivalry, even moreso than Crosby and Ovechkin. To make it even better, these two were battling for top spot in the NHL scoring race. It was a great headline, and it did live up to the tag…both flourishing throughout the game and even playing very physical against one another. While Malkin won the points battle with 4 on the evening, Ovechkin’s team won the game, which in the end is what really matters.

Malkin – 2 goals, 02 assists, 04 points, 0 wins
Alex O – 2 goals, 01 assists, 03 points, 1 win

The thing that bothers me is that now with Sidney Crosby back, it’s instantly “ Crosby vs Ovechkin” again. Why? Sure, they are both elite talents, and they are both faces for the NHL to attempt to grab new fans with, but at this moment Crosby has nothing to prove against Ovechkin. He has just returned from an injury that cost him 21 games, is no where near contending for the scoring title, and isn’t even playing at 100% yet. So why in the world would they label this game as if these two were neck-and-neck in the scoring race, when I don’t know, the ACTUAL players who ARE neck-and-neck in that race will be on the ice?!

Listen I love watching Sidney Crosby play as much as the next guy. However, right now, this team like it or not, is being led by #71, who by the way has a chance to win the Art Ross Trophy…and one Alexander Ovechkin is standing in his way. Sounds like taylor-made TV sports headlines to me! So listen up promoters, how bout we pump THAT up, how about that being the center of attention (if we must have one) for the game, how about we keep it relevant. This year, at this time, “ Crosby vs Ovechkin” doesn’t exist, “Malkin vs Ovechkin” does…why not go with that?! Show Malkin some love!

Malkin, you had us at “Zdravstvuite”.

And while we’re at it, must we have the clichéd taglines? “Two Superstars Clash” or “Star-Studded Showdown.” Come on NHL, these guys deserve better than that.

Comments

  1. Ashley Gallant

    Mar 7, 10:04 PM

    I’ll take it any way that I can get it. Crosby vs. Ovechkin is my overall personal (and very biased) choice, but Malkin vs. Ovechkin is a very good subplot, especially after that last game.

    You have to admit that the Crosby vs. Ovechkin billing has more appeal to hockey fans because Crosby is more marketable than Malkin. Evidence of this is the fact that TSN is now broadcasting Sunday’s game – a game that was not previously on the schedule. People want to see Sid play, and Ovechkin is his biggest ‘rival’.

  2. Jonathan Farzalo

    Mar 7, 10:15 PM

    Yea, I get the whole Crosby vs Ovechkin thing, I do, and until he was injured, I kind of liked it. But, it just doesn’t have a purpose right now…Malkin is in the race, they had a bigger battle last meeting then Crosby and Alex EVER have…I’d think that a place like TSN would notice that, even if NBC (being the great hockey lovers they are) doesn’t.

    But you’re right, Sid sells the game better then anyone, which is why it’s acceptable, but I just wish people would show Geno some love.

  3. Ashley Gallant

    Mar 7, 10:44 PM

    I think that TSN does notice it because their broadcasters and analysts mention the Malkin/Ovechkin thing quite frequently, but in order to market the game to the entire nation, they put photos of Crosby and Ovechkin on their banners advertising the game.

    I think that Geno is being shown as much love as possible (at least from what I see up here), but it’s going to be limited because of his poor English.

  4. Jean Hehn

    Mar 7, 11:12 PM

    Look at the NHL website today – they have their heading Sidney and Alex and Malkin… Oh my. They are billing their presentation as all three superstars in one game. Maybe they are noticing.

  5. Justin Maffei

    Mar 8, 02:48 AM

    Good article, Jonathan.

    I am in agreement. I actually like the Malkin vs. Ovechkin story better. They are more similar in that they are snipers. Crosby is more of a playmaker. Malkin is probably a blend of Crosby and Ovechkin. The Russian boys and 1-2 in the draft subplot just add to the intensity. I can’t wait!

  6. Michael

    Mar 8, 03:42 AM

    I also hope that “Jack Adams Therrien” gives Malkin more ice-time (Malkin’s own line, with him as a center), instead of giving Sid 25 minutes and keeping Malkin’s line considerably under that.

    Sid should not have been up around 25 minutes, anyway, in his first two games back .. that’s too much .. he’s not nearly up-to-par physically.

    Malkin thrives on a lot of ice-time as a center. Give__him__some extra ice-time .. not Crosby, at this juncture.

    Again .. Malkin doesn’t get the respect he’s earned, while Therrien goes against common sense by overloading Sid with too many minutes in his first few games back. On top of that, Therrien still throws Malkin onto Sid’s line as a winger at the drop of a hat .. another unintelligent move.

    So, yes .. I agree .. where’s the love for Malkin .. even from his own coach .. ?!

    And like I said in another post .. put Staal on Malkin’s wing, and put Malone on Sid’s wing. Having Talbot and Dupuis both as wingers for Sid is just no good. Staal has proven his effectiveness as a winger with Malkin .. but “Jack Adams Therrien” has (of course) stubbornly refused to go with this proven-successful combination.

  7. Michael

    Mar 8, 03:52 AM

    Therrien’s been mis-using Staal, anyway.

    Staal just isn’t panning-out as a center. He’s not a playmaker, he’s not a good passer, and he’s lousy on faceoffs. He’s better as a winger, and he can score goals as a winger with Malkin.

    But Therrien has a tendency to not listen to common sense, so we’ll probably see Staal continue to be misused and wasted as a “third-line center” for the forseeable future.

  8. DaBich

    Mar 11, 09:41 AM

    Michael ~ I disagree with having Malone on Sid’s line. Malone has said himself that he prefers to play with Malkin. Malone/Malkin/Sykora is a dynamite line…why mess with it when it’s not needing fixed?

    I do agree tho, that Malkin not only deserves love, right now he’s NEEDING it. It’s easy to say this AFTER the game Sunday (vs. Washington), but I was so pissed at the attention given to Sid, and no credit given to Malkin. And his play is showing it. He definitely needs some support. His game is sliding.

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