The return of Tarasenko and Ovechkin’s training

The National Hockey League continues to prepare for the resumption of the 2019/20 season. At the moment, the exact dates for holding its final part have not been determined, but hockey players are once again conducting joint training and gaining conditions before the fight for the Stanley Cup. Of course, one of the favorites can be considered “St. Louis”. The current champions confidently held the regular season, and this was practically without the help of one of their leaders - Vladimir Tarasenko, who had not played since the end of October due to a shoulder injury. But, as the Blues head coach Craig Berube said, the Russian has already recovered and is ready to help St. Louis in the battle for the championship.

According to the Canadian specialist, the striker wanted to return at the end of February, but the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Berube noted that the Russian along with the coaches did an excellent job of restoration, which allowed him to maintain himself in great shape. The mentor also stated that Tarasenko had already taken part in ice classes.

Resumed ice training and other stars of the National Hockey League. Among them is the best regular championship sniper Alexander Ovechkin, who won the Maurice Richard Trophy for the record ninth time. The leader of the Washington Capitals arrived in Florida and worked with compatriots from other clubs. Unexpected was the appearance on the site of the former Pittsburgh Penguins defense player Darius Kasparaitis.

Video from the training was published by Mikhail Sergachev. The Tampa Bay Lightning defender showed how he beats teammate Nikita Kucherov.

Evgeni Malkin tried himself in a different position - during the Pittsburgh training session, the striker took a place in the goal and even parried the throw of one of the partners. The three-time Stanley Cup winner posted this moment on his Instagram page and wrote: “Hockey, I missed you.”

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Publication from TSN (@tsn_official) Jun 11, 2020 at 6:07 pm PDT

Despite the crumpled completion of the regular season due to the pandemic, Malkin can safely bring it into his asset. The Russian striker “Penguins” took 14th place in the scorers race with 74 (25 + 49) points, but for this he needed only 55 matches. If it weren’t for the injury, he could have been much higher, given that on average per attacker scored 1.35 points. According to this indicator, he takes fifth place, second only to David Pastrnyak, Artemy Panarin and the duet from Edmonton represented by Connor McDavid and Leon Dreisaitl.

The damage also deprived Malkin of the opportunity to claim individual awards at the end of the season, but journalists and teammates tried to sweeten the pill. Thus, the American portal Pensburgh recognized him as the author of the best goal “Penguins” in the competition year. The Russian puck was named the most beautiful in the confrontation with “Washington” in February 2020, when he single-handedly cracked down on rival defender John Karlsson and goalkeeper Braden Holtby. Eugene was also nominated among the candidates for the “Bill Masterton Trophy”, which is awarded annually to a league player who has shown high sportsmanship and loyalty to hockey. If successful, he may become the first representative of Russia in history to take this prize.

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Publication by Evgeni Malkin (@ e.malkin71geno) Jun 12, 2020 at 11:38 PDT

NHL Fans' Awards and Vasilevsky's Mastery

The NHL has published the results of the Fan Choice Awards, an annual award that awards players based on fans ’votes. Among the Russians, Ovechkin, Panarin and Bobrovsky were especially noted. Alexander received a prize for the "Best GIF", and his compatriots were named the best friendly couple of the league (Best Bromance). A short video in which the captain of the “Washington” unexpectedly breaks into the frame, blocking the child in the hoodie of the team, was supported by 31.1% of respondents. At the same time, Artemy and Sergey won more confidently, bowing 35.4% of the audience to their side. Among their opponents were Carolina hockey players Andrei Svechnikov and Dougie Hamilton.

Panarin could well get the upper hand in another category, but could not get around the players of his former club. Representatives of Columbus Blue Jackets Elvis Merzlikin and Nick Foligno took first place in the nomination "Best Goal Celebration", and the firm high-kick brought Artemia second place. It should be much more offensive to Andrei Svechnikov, whose goal in the lacrosse style was not recognized as the most beautiful according to the results of the championship. Previously, in the NHL, no one scored a goal in this way, but even this did not help him climb to the top. Forward “Carolina Hurricanes” was only the third, passing forward both goalkeeper Pekka Rinne and Connor McDavid.

Surprise @ ovi8. pic.twitter.com/s3bwS3ubwE

- NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) November 15, 2019

In addition, the NHL journalists ranked the best NHL goalkeepers among the teams participating in the final segment of the season, which also could not do without the Russians. Tampa Bay Lightning goalkeeper Andrei Vasilevsky is on the second line and lost only to Tuukka Rusk from Boston Bruins. The results of Sergei Bobrovsky from Florida Panthers are noticeably more modest. One of the highest paid guardians of the championship gates and two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy took only 15th place. Below is just the Robin Lehner of Vegas Golden Knights.

Climbing Mount Kovalchuk and replenishment in the Zadorov family

Ovechkin’s partner in Capitals, Ilya Kovalchuk, was not awarded a nomination for a prize, but he spent time with benefit. In the company of IBF and IBO middleweight boxing world champion Gennady Golovkin and his children, he climbed Mount San Gargonio in California. This peak is the highest point of the San Bernardino ridge - 3506 meters above sea level. The hockey player posted the relevant photos on Instagram, accompanied by a comment: "Bachelor party."

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Publication by Ilya Kovalchuk (@ilyakovalchukofficial) Jun 12, 2020 at 11:15 PDT

An even more significant event occurred in the family of Mikhail Grigorenko. He said that for the third time he became a father. The forward of Columbus published a photo of Alexander’s newborn son on a social network, noting that he was born on May 22.

And the defender of Colorado Avalanche Nikita Zadorov is preparing to become a father for the second time. He said that he and his wife Alexandra were expecting a second child. According to the athlete, replenishment should be expected in the fall.