Alyonka: National Hockey League and Pittsburgh Penguins presents “NHL In Russian”. Dear friends, your host, Gera.
Gera: Hello, dear friends, hello dear hockey lovers. Today is a debut for our program and i’d like to congratulate us with this big day. I know that many people have waited for this program and finally its here.
Alyonka: Ok, Lets Start.
Gera: My name is Gera and i am going to be host of this show called “NHL In Russian’. Of course i am going to be with my friends, my colleagues, Alena and Oleg.
Alyonka: Hello!
Oleg: Good Afternoon.
Gera: You are going to meet them a little closer during the program. Alena is a very beautiful girl who works for Pittsburgh Penguins organization. She is a host of a huge radio, not even radio but television show. Very famous show, television channel, Pittsburgh Penguins channel.
Alyonka: Whole America is watching!
Oleg: Thats the only channel i have at home.
Gera: The second person you hear who talks a lot, always. He knows practically everything about hockey, maybe even everything, Oleg Mejeritski. Oleg works for Russian Sport newspaper. I think you have read many of his articles.
Oleg: Thousands of articles!
Gera: Well, this is our team. Once again i am happy to introduce all of my friends. We are all together going to host this show, “NHL In Russian”.
Alyonka: Thank you Gera.
Gera: A little bit about the show. The show will air once a week. Every Tuesday, its going to be a live show. It will also be repeat many times throughout the week. The show will air at 8:30am on Tuesday, thats American time (EST). Its 4:30pm Moscow time. The program will be repeat on Thursday and Saturday. Well i am very excited about this show and lets start.
Alyonka: Lets start. Go Forward. Lets talk about our guests on today’s show. Today we have very famous, mighty, handsome guests.
Gera: Yes today we have two guests.
Alyonka: Well later today we are going to have some guest named Larionov, or something.
Gera: Larionov is a very famous human being. Very famous hockey player in the past. Simply a great guy, Igor Larionov.
Oleg: Young player Evgeni Malkin.
Gera: Evgeni Malkin … excellent!
Oleg: Evgeni Malkin many know him already but not everyone yet.
Alyonka: Well now they will get to know him. Very well!
Oleg: Yes from all the sides.
Alyonka: *laughing* Well lets start first by talking about hockey.
Gera: Yes lets talk about hockey, and what happened last week. As i promised our most vocal host, Oleg.
Alyonka: Dear, friends i’d like to introduce you our vocal friend Oleg, “NHL In Russian”. Oleg this is your time to talk about hockey. So please.
Oleg: Finally! Sitting here for a few minutes now, thinking when are we going to talk about hockey. Actually, dear friends you probably know that quarter of the NHL season is over. On the east as expected all the same teams are leading the charts, Washington, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia. Also in the top 5 are Buffalo and New Jersey. These teams for me aren’t a big surprise. Washington is probably playing in the weakest division and even though only quarter of the season is over their spot in the payoffs is probably already secured. Maybe if not secured then very probable.
Gera: Yes they will be in the playoffs for sure. They are a very strong team. Not sure if they are ready to win Stanley Cup but a spot in playoffs definitely.
Alyonka: Ovechkin is back now so everything should move forward for them.
Oleg: Without a doubt, Pittsburgh with all of their injuries still taking up top spots.
Gera: Ole ole ole ole!
Oleg: I am sure that when everyone returns to Pittsburgh they will be in playoffs without a doubt. Philadelphia assembled such a team that they simply can not, not get into playoffs. They are playing not bad at all. Not a big surprise once again is Buffalo and New Jersey.
Gera: Yes Buffalo they don’t have any big stars, or huge names, but they are playing very stable and very good hockey.
Alyonka: Well if we are going to talk about stars lets talk about Atlanta. They are playing great and they only have stars playing. Ilya Kovalchuk, Afinogenov just signed.
Oleg: Yes now it became the new Russian team. Last year it was Washington, year before it was Montreal, and now its Atlanta.
Gera: You know that Atlanta scored over 70 goals. Thats around 4 goals per game.
Alyonka: Wow!
Oleg: Yes and its when Kovalchuk missed half the season.
Alyonka: Well then who is scoring all the goals then?
Oleg: Afinogenov, he alrady has more goals, nine, then entire last season when he played for Buffalo.
Gera: Carolina, i dont know what happened to Carolina. Of course they have injuries but their performance hasn’t been stable. 14 loses in a row.
Oleg: Yes they have lost many games in a row. I am thinking that in Eastern conference only Toronto doesn’t have a chance to make the playoffs this year. All the other teams are still battling. On the West, again the same Sharks are leading.
Alyonka: Yes Sharks, well if they get to playoffs how will they hang on there?
Gera: We will see how will they hang there.
Oleg: Yes we will how its going to move forward. A big surprise, unpleasant surprise, Anaheim, which is a very strong team. Last year they lost only in game 7 to Detroit. However now they are trailing last spots of Western conference. This is a big surprise for me at least.
Gera: We will see how they are going to progress further and i think we will be back to discuss this later.
Alyonka: Thank you Oleg.
Gera: Thank you Oleg.
Oleg: You are welcome.
Alyonka: Well i think its time for our first interview. And this interview is with our …
Gera: *singing* They call me Geno!
Alyonka: Hahaha
Gera: *singing* They call me Malkin!
Alyonka: … with our beloved Evgeni Malkin. Gera, you were just singing a pretty song. In a few words please tell us …
Oleg: Where did you learn how to sing that way?
Gera: i can also sing about rabbits (funny reference to an old Soviet movie “Brilliantovaya Ruka” where main character gets drunk and sings about rabbits. )
Oleg: Yes we already heard that one. Maybe in the next show i will tell more about that.
Alyonka: Well i still have a question, when Evgeni came to Pittsburgh you were the one to help him out. What kind of relationship did you guys have?
Gera: Yes we could say that i was the first person Evgeni Malkin met when he came here. Well not counting Sergei Gonchar.
Oleg: Well Evgeni knew Gonchar from Russian they used to play together.
Gera: Yes of course. Well what can i say about Malkin in a few words. He is a great guy, very social, very interesting to interact with him, down to earth and doesnt think of himself as a huge star.
Oleg: He was brave enough to give us an interview.
Gera: He is the first one and i think he is happy that his interview gets to open this show.
Alyonka: When can we hear the whole interview?
Gera: The whole interview you can hear tomorrow, day after this show. Right now we will only have 10 minutes long interview. The whole interview will be posted on our internet page.
Alyonka: Ok then lets start our interview already.
Transcript: Malkin Russian Radio Interview
George Birman: Welcome to the program. The first Russian Radio Show is proud to have our first guest, a very famous guest…
Evgeni Malkin: Keep talking George.
BIRMAN: I wanted to take the time right now to list all the awards that he’s won.
MALKIN: You can make some up if you’d like.
BIRMAN: Yes, I think I’ll add some. He started in the NHL in 2006, the same year he won the Calder Trophy. He’s won the Art Ross Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy. He’s won the Stanley Cup!
Alyonka Larionov: Well, that’s the most important one.
BIRMAN: Yes, the most important.
MALKIN: When do I get my applause?
BIRMAN: He was a part of the All-Star Game. For two years he was the best player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, a two-time bronze winner of the World Championships…Evgeni Malkin!
ALYONKA: Applause
MALKIN: Louder, louder!
ALYONKA: I think the best part is that…
MALKIN: Is that I’m the best looking?
ALYONKA: Well, that’s a given. You’re the best looking in Pittsburgh. (The best part is) that all your fans all over the world are able to listen to you right now.
MALKIN: Is the show already over? Am I supposed to say bye now? Until next time? I wanted to wish everyone the best health because right now it seems like health is a big issue. To all my fans, thank you for your constant support. And I’m really happy to have you.
BIRMAN: Geno, this is the first episode.
MALKIN: No, no, my first assist was in 2006 on the ice (Note: peredacha means both episode and assist in Russian).
BIRMAN: First episode of NHL in Russian, the radio show. What do you think about this show? What’s your opinion?
MALKIN: Well, I think this is a great idea first off. I know I have a lot of friends and fans that live in Moscow and other cities that are interested in the game of hockey and the NHL overall, and it would be interesting for them to listen to the show whether it be in their car or wherever, to hear news about games or their favorite players, Ovechkin or Kovalchuk. And I’m really happy to be a part of the this show and I’d like to continue to be a part of it if you’ll invite me again.
All: Of course.
Oleg Mejeritski: We’ll have you for every show.
MALKIN: How often does this come out again?
MEJERITSKI: (laughing) Everyday!
MALKIN: Everyday? And every day there will be different players?
ALYONKA: Yes, we’ll have many guests. Actually, our second guest will be Igor Larionov.
MALKIN: Is he coming here?
ALYONKA: No, we’ll be speaking with him on the phone. He’s very busy. So let’s first talk about hockey. Oleg has a couple questions for you.
MEJERITSKI: Yes, last season became the best season for you and the team.
MALKIN: I’m hoping it’s not the last one.
MEJERITSKI: Of course not. Remember the playoffs last year, when was the time that you felt you had a chance to win the Cup? Was there a certain game, day, month?
MALKIN: Well it’s hard to remember but for me, the moment where I thought we could win the Cup was our first game against Detroit because when we played last year, they had an obvious advantage over our game and it was tough to play against them. But this year starting with the first minute, the first shift, even though we lost the game we could tell that we didn’t give up anything and didn’t let them have their way. In shots, in our game, we were even more refreshed than them and I think during that game I felt that we can definitely battle against Detroit and we have an amazing chance to win.
MEJERITSKI: Go back to the 7th game against Detroit. It’s 2-1. You’re winning. Were those the longest six minutes of your life?
MALKIN: Yes, they must have been. You’re right. I was sitting on the bench and it was as if everything was in slow motion and ‘Flower,’ although he saw the puck, somehow it went in to make it 2-1 and you look up at the clock and it says 6:50.
MEJERITSKI: Wow, you even remember the exact seconds?
MALKIN: Yeah, approximate. After each line change, you’re constantly looking back up at the clock and it seemed like forever and thank God it was all over and we won.
ALYONKA: I have to ask you, when you won and everyone runs out onto the ice, was there someone you jumped on first? On Gonchar? Fleury?
MALKIN: I think I jumped on everyone. But I think towards Fleury. Everyone was skating towards Fleury and not me! I just kept thinking that everyone was going to skate towards me! But yeah, we all had this group jumping on top of each other.
BIRMAN: Yes, you guys were like kids and the look on your face was like you won it all, you had the ultimate success. All the suffering was over.
MALKIN: Well of course, for many it was their first Cup. For me, it was my first ‘first-place’ trophy. I’ve lost for Championships and in Russia. It’s hard to explain. We could have won last year, but we didn’t so a big thank you to the team for keeping it together and winning the ultimate Cup.
BIRMAN: Who did you call first?
MALKIN: I called my parents. I went back to the locker room and I looked at my Russian phone and I saw all these messages.
MEJERITSKI: Right now is where you leave your number so all the fans can write you.
MALKIN: Hopefully they’ll write when we win again. I had so many texts and calls and messages and it was hard to write everyone back and say thank you. Like Alyonka said, it was a busy time.
MEJERITSKI: Real quick, let’s return to game 7 and the last faceoff. What were the emotions running through you?
MALKIN: I remember when there were 18 seconds left and the faceoff was in center ice. I thought that was still enough to get a goal. But when there were six seconds left in our zone, I thought there’s no way they can score in six seconds. There’s no way and we had to win the faceoff. Immediately we lose the faceoff and there are two, three shots towards our net and it was all like slow motion But I kept believing and maybe our belief was the reason we won. I just kept believing they weren’t going to score that goal and that we were going to win.
MEJERITSKI: After the game, did you have the feeling that you’d win the playoff MVP?
MALKIN: Well of course, thoughts like that run through your head and it’s always very nice to hear but all my thoughts were about Game 7 and winning. So yeah, it crossed my mind but winning and the Cup was No. 1 on my mind.
ALYONKA: Let’s…
MALKIN: Ok, let’s.
ALYONKA: Let’s talk about the Stanley Cup.
MALKIN: What is that?
ALYONKA: When we came back to Pittsburgh, there was a huge parade. How was it for you to be a part of that, riding through the streets with that many fans around you? I think 100,000?
BIRMAN: More than 300,000.
MALKIN: You were off by a little there.
MEJERITSKI: Yeah a little, around 200,000.
ALYONKA: How was that for you? What were your feelings? And that the MVP trophy was with you.
MALKIN: I definitely didn’t expect that. We started a little bit outside of downtown where we got into our cars and there were a few people, and a few fans and you thought that that was it. But then we went into downtown and all I could say was ‘wow’ because I’ve never seen that many people. On rooftops, people were hanging out of windows and trees. It was crazy. And then I truly felt ‘we actually won’ My dream came true that I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid of winning some kind of cup
ALYONKA: Some kind of cup?
MALKIN: Well then, yes, but now the most prized and amazing Cup. It was shocking.
ALYONKA: Can you tell me your favorite moment with Lord Stanley? Do you have one?
MALKIN: Probably on the ice. When Max Talbot handed me the Cup and I lifted it and then kissed it.
MEJERITSKI: You kissed Max?
MALKIN: And Max too! That was my favorite moment. Here he is!
ALYONKA: Here he is and he’s mine?
MALKIN: Here he is and he’s ours.
ALYONKA: The Olympics are coming up and Oleg has a couple questions about that.
MEJERITSKI: You were at the camp in August.
MALKIN: I only had one day there because I had the Cup the day before but yes, it was in August and all the guys came out and it was a lot of fun. It was shocking that everyone came. Even from America just for those two days. It was so nice to see everyone together. There wasn’t even a thought that someone wouldn’t show up. Everyone was happy to work hard.
ALYONKA: Like friends?
MALKIN: Yeah and like a National Team and practicing together. A big thank you to the guys for coming together and for including me in this team.
MEJERITSKI: Did you meet some new guys that you hadn’t known before? Or what player really made an impact on you?
MALKIN: It’s hard to say that I didn’t know anyone.
ALYONKA: He’s a superstar! He knows everyone.
MEJERITSKI: Well, everyone knows you but maybe you didn’t know someone before this camp?
MALKIN: I had never met (Simeon) Varlamov and now we met on the ice. So yes, there were some people I hadn’t personally met but the hockey world is so small that with the three years I’ve played, I’ve pretty much met everyone, even all my heroes from my childhood.
MEJERITSKI: What is your relationship like with coaches of the National Team?
MALKIN: Well I think it’s not only me, we all have very close relationships with our coaches and I know that they make sure to call us and to see how we are. It’s a friend type of relationship and its very nice. We have an amazing group of guys and with this group we don’t have the option of losing. And so we have a big chance to win although I don’t want to make predictions but it is all in our hands.
MEJERITSKI: Don’t want to make any guarantees?
MALKIN: No one will give you a guarantee but you have to prove that you will win because of the group of people we have for our team this year, especially the coaching staff. It’s their third season. They’ve been proving that with their hard work they are deserving to lead our country to the Olympics and go for the gold medal.
MEJERITSKI: Do the injuries play a part of any worries that you have for the Russian players that will be a part of this group?
MALKIN: It’s hard to say. Sometimes injuries work in your favor, you have some time to rest.
MEJERITSKI: You’re talking about yourself right now?
MALKIN: (laughs) Well, I had a good two weeks to pull myself together, but injuries are injuries. The most important thing is that they aren’t around in February and we still have time and I think everyone will be ready by then. Maybe it’s a good thing that there are injuries now and not later.
MEJERITSKI: Can you imagine yourself in the final game and you’re at a faceoff with Sidney Crosby and in net is Fleury.
MALKIN: Well no but now that I think about it.
ALYONKA: Scary, right?
MALKIN: No, they’re not scary. You can play against them like any other team. Even Fleury misses shots and Crosby sometimes doesn’t score. So it’s totally normal to think that I’ll play against them and I will. And I hope this vision comes true where we’re standing at the faceoff.
MEJERITSKI: So what if the final game will be ended by a shootout. Will you help your teammates on how to best beat Fleury in net.
ALYONKA: Of course!
MALKIN: Even women know the answer! Of course I’ll help them out. Even Gonchar will help out since we know and we play on the same team. But it’ll be a nerve-wrecking situation if that plays out. But the type of skilled players we have on our team, I think they know how to play against any goalie, those like Sergei Fedorov. I don’t think you’d even want to tell them how to play. But if he asks, of course I’ll try to help the best I can, especially in a deciding moment like that.
MEJERITSKI: Maybe you’ll have the opportunity to check Crosby against the boards.
MALKIN: (laughing) And not only by the boards! I mean we laugh right now but when you’re on a different team, even if it were Gonch playing against me on another team, I’m going to play against him like he’s an opponent.
MEJERITSKI: We’ll make sure to let Gonch know.
MALKIN: Well he’ll probably make it out to this show.
ALYONKA: But I think that that’s what it is. It’s a business of sorts.
BIRMAN: Yes, it’s just how hockey is.
MALKIN: And if you’re not playing 100 percent you’re only making it harder for yourself.
BIRMAN: To play for the National Team is a pretty prestigious moment for you. Very important right? And Alex Ovechkin made a statement about playing for the games in Sochi, that no matter what he will be a part of that tournament. I don’t know if you heard but where do you stand if NHL players will not be allowed to participate in their National Teams?
MALKIN: I’ll say that we talked during the All Star games amongst the Russians and I think we all kind of came to the agreement that no matter what would happen we’d all come together to play for our country and our National Team. These Olympics are in Canada and all Canadians will be there to support their country. If we have the games in Sochi and we don’t show up, that’s not right. So we have to be there and I think we will be there. So from my side, Yes, I will be there.
ALYONKA: So you agree with Alex?
MALKIN: 100 percent.
MEJERITSKI: This must be the only thing you agree on with Ovechkin.
MALKIN: Well everything else is a secret.
ALYONKA: OK, so I was born in Moscow but I’ve never been in Magnitogorsk.
MALKIN: Thank god. (laughing).
ALYONKA: Don’t say that. It’s still your birth place and where you grew up. Can you tell our listeners what you do there? What are your hobbies when you go home? Describe the city.
MALKIN: Well you said so yourself, I grew up there and so I love that city and it’s probably the most beautiful city and my favorite. What do I do there? Well, probably what everyone else does. I relax; I hang out with friends, go to the movies, play pool, we go fishing although the fish don’t bite. Or maybe there are no more fish left.
MEJERITSKI: There must be no more fish.
BIRMAN: So you said you come home and you’re with friends. Here’s my question. I met you four years ago when you came to America and we became friends. You were this normal, open, great person. Four years have passed, you’ve accomplished a lot, you’ve won many things.
MALKIN: Yes, keep going.
MEJERITSKI: And you’ve stayed the same. How is that? Where is that star factor? It’s true. We can sit together as friends and talk about anything and it will always be a good time. How did you stay that way?
MALKIN: Well I’ll probably have to say a big thank you to my parents. That is something they get the credit for. They raised me to be this way and they still give me advice. So thank you to them. They put me on the right track. I think it comes down to the way you were raised and then you carry that on in your life. I always listen to their advice. I’m sure I had a moment of stardom in my first team in Magnitogorsk but I was probably quickly brought back down to earth and understood very quickly that it’s not about the fame or money because nothing good comes from that. I started to look at hockey and life differently.
ALYONKA: When you came here you first lived with the Gonchars. Do you think his knowledge of the game and the NHL, ways of living here, etc., do you think that helped you ?
MALKIN: Of course it helped. I think what Sergei did for me, it’s hard to put a price on it. What he did for me. I think I will be forever in debt to him. I have to say thank you to him. Every day we talked and he’d explain everything to me and I think you all know what type of person Sergei is and how kind he is. Especially when my parents left for the first time, Sergei became like an older brother to me. And I looked up to him. Alyonka, you’re right, he really helped me.
BIRMAN: When you lived with Sergei, you even learned how to act around kids. I’ve seen you play with Sergei’s daughter.
MALKIN: Well, I love children, I always have. Even when I go back home to Magnitogorsk, I’m always playing with my friends kids. So it was nice to spend time with Natasha.
BIRMAN: Do you remember your first stadium and coach in Magnitogorsk?
MALKIN: First Arena was the ice outside. My parents first bought my brother and I tattered skates, well brand new skates then. We came to the ice and my father played hockey and when we were young, we were always there day and night and then when we got old enough to play a part of a team, my parents signed me up for a local team for our age group. So everything kind of started there. My first coach was Yuri Tykaserev. Then they’d change quite often. But when I was around 7 or 8, Viktor Petrovich Vikman. he really started working with us until an older age. He gave me a lot in hockey and in life. I can say a lot about him. I still speak with him often and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done.
BIRMAN: It’s great when people fulfill their dreams and become as famous as you are and still remember those people that helped them along the way.
ALYONKA: I think the coolest thing is that everything you just said, there’s a chance that he heard it all on the radio.
MALKIN: Will this be playing in Magnitogorsk?
ALYONKA: Yes of course. OK, well I know time is running out for you.
MALKIN: Yes, I’d love to come back another day.
ALYONKA: We’ll make sure to invite you back 100 times over but I want to ask you a couple quick questions for our female listeners who want to…
MALKIN: Who want me?
ALYONKA: Yes. Blonde or Brunette?
MALKIN: Blonde
ALYONKA: Why?
MALKIN: It’s hard to say. When I look at a blonde I get more emotions inside of me. I don’t know why. I’ve had a brunette girlfriend before but blondes are No. 1 for me.
ALYONKA: What is the one quality you look for in a woman.
BIRMAN: What do you like the most?
MALKIN: It’s hard to say just one quality.
MEJERITSKI: Love for hockey?
MALKIN: I guess support in everything in hockey and life.
ALYONKA: Well let’s say we’re going on our first date and I invite you over for dinner.
MALKIN: Me? When?
ALYONKA: What would you like for me to cook for you? Pierogies?
MALKIN: Well actually you’ve already invited me over for those!
ALYONKA: Yes, and they didn’t turn out so well.
MEJERITSKI: Well, that was a very popular video. Everyone saw that.
MALKIN: Well of course, to laugh at us both here.
MEJERITSKI: Have you learned to cook? What’s the next thing you two are going to cook? Because Alyonka can come over and cook for you.
ALYONKA: Well I can’t do that because I obviously ruined the first date. He didn’t like the pierogies.
MEJERITSKI: She’s practiced!
BIRMAN: She’s been studying and reading books, making notes.
MALKIN: So she lied to me last time. I don’t know what the second dish should be. It should be much more challenging than folding dough. So maybe duck? Baked duck?
MEJERITSKI: Ok, we’ll write it just like that, Bake a Duck.
BIRMAN: I think we’re going to have to close out soon. Any last questions?
MEJERITSKI: In two words, what can you say about Pittsburgh for all the listeners in Russia who have never seen the city?
MALKIN: Many say that Pittsburgh isn’t the greatest compared to New York but in my opinion it’s a great city and there is absolutely everything anyone would need. We have beautiful bridges and I think we have the most out of any other city. We have beautiful rivers around downtown. When I drive to the arena at night, the view is beautiful. It’s captivating.
ALYONKA: Most importantly that there are nice people here.
MEJERITSKI: Do you watch soccer? For our National Team?
MALKIN: I root for our National Team but haven’t watched many of the games. I’ve watched Zenit in St. Petersburg. Our National Team has been losing but we’re always wishing them the best of luck.
BIRMAN: Thank you so much Geno for coming on the show with us.
MEJERITSKI: Is there someone you want to say hi to right now?
MALKIN: Hello? To all my friends and family and parents. Hopefully this will reach them in Magnitogorsk.
MEJERITSKI: When are your parents coming back to town?
MALKIN: Probably sometime around the New Year.
ALYONKA: I think your parents are more famous than you are.
MALKIN: And I don’t like that!
BIRMAN: Could you have ever imagined that they’d be so popular?
MALKIN: Honestly, I never thought they would be. For me it was a shock.
BIRMAN: During the games, I walk around the concourse of the Mellon Arena and many people know that I’m friends with your family and they all come up and ask me “When are the Malkins coming back?” I swear to you. That’s how popular they are.
ALYONKA: Yes, and when they’re here, people come up to them and ask for their autographs and to take photos.
BIRMAN: And you’re dad loves to hug the ladies.
MALKIN: (laughing) Don’t say that!
ALYONKA: Let’s hope your mom wasn’t listening during this part.
MALKIN: Will you guys ever let me go?! (laughing)
All: Yes, yes. Thank you very much for coming again!
Alyonka: Ok Oleg, as i understand you got a lot of emails. Lets talk about them and what can we expect in the hockey this week.
Oleg: Yes thanks to our fans and our radio listeners as we started to receive our first emails.
Alyonka: Really?
Oleg: Yes really, what am i going to lie? Look here one, two, three. Not too many came and i am not going to lie. However, lets talk about what we can expect more next week. Very interested for me will be following Anaheim and Carolina. Without counting that there are still many hockey games to be played i think this is last chance for both teams to show that they might have a chance to get into playoffs. Whats interesting is that this Wednesday Carolina is visiting and playing Anaheim. Anaheim is playing many games at home and then they will be getting on a road. If they don’t pick up at least 75%-80% of their points at home in the next 5-6 games they chances of making playoffs are going to be very slim and they obviously have to make some changes.
Alyonka: What do you think about the game of Montreal against our Penguins this Wednesday? In Montreal they have assembled a good players but they are not playing well as a team.
Oleg: The problem here is once again, injuries. I think that you can’t tell yet …
Gera: Penguins are starting to get healthy.
Oleg: Yes the Penguins are starting to get healthy, however, in Montreal Gionta for example, who plays of the first line he is injured, and no one really knows for how long. Andrei Markov is also injured till February. Thats why for its not going to be easy for Montreal since they don’t have that much depth on their team. Price is not playing the way he is supposed to. I don’t think its going to be easy for them to get to playoffs this season and get that 92-93 points needed. I don’t think they can do it. Also very interesting game at the end of the week is going to be Rangers vs Pittsburgh. They are first playing in Pittsburgh and then in New York. Its going to be very interesting to watch. New York is playing without Drury, without Dubinsky, in other words without their first centers. Its going to be interesting for me how long they can remain on the 8th position.
Gera: Oleg lets go to some questions.
Alyonka: The best question, come on.
Oleg: Ok here we go, best question. Valera is asking, “How likely is rematch between Washington and Penguins this season?” I think its hard to say right now. I think its likely to happen but to predict that right now is practically impossible. Its going to come down how the teams will finish their season. Maybe Washington will be on the first spot and Penguins on the 4th spot. So it might not happen. However, its my opinion to get to 2nd-3rd round of playoffs everyone will have to go through Pittsburgh.
Alyonka: Its going to be very interesting we will be awaiting. Thank you very much Oleg.
Gera: Thank you.
Gera: Dear friends, i would like to introduce our next guest. This person is a legend. This person has won world hockey trophies and medals, its Igor Larionov. We have his daughter here with us Alena.
Oleg: Yeah? Here?
Gera: Yes i’d like to ask you a question Alena. How was it to interview and ask your father questions?
Alyonka: You know Gera and Oleg, here i am.
Oleg: Alyonka came here!
Alyonka: To be truthful i was very nervous. Because talking to him like that about hockey and life and ask him questions which i waited so many years to ask.
Gera: Have you found out anything new from your father?
Alyonka: Yes i have learned a lot of interesting and new information that i can not share with you right now, but if you listen to the interview, you will hear everything. All the secrets of Larionov. Maybe then we should start the interview.
Gera: Ok then lets listen to Igor Larionov.
Gera: Dear friends, i would like to introduce to you our guest. He is a famous man. He is a simply man-legend. Legend of world hockey. Legend of Russian hockey. He won all possible trophies. Won all the trophies in Russia and most of the trophies in NHL, Igor Nikolaevich Larionov.
Alyonka: Hello dad.
Gera: Good Afternoon.
Igor: You can simply call me Igor might be easier that way.
Gera: Thank you. I would like to thank you once again for finding some time to talk to us. Today is a pretty big day for us, since its a first time we are coming out with such a project in Russian language and we would love to hear your opinion on regarding our project, our show “NHL In Russian”.
Igor: As far as i understand this show is air in North America or in Russian, or is it even worldwide.
Gera: Its worldwide!
Igor: Well i think its really great. As far as i know there is a huge amount of Russian hockey fans living throughout the world. Its very interesting for them to find out how the current NHL players are doing or even previous hockey players that still continue to be involved. So i think you have really good chances to be successful. There isn’t enough of shows like this right now. You guys are giving access to players like Malkin, Datsyuk, Gonchar, Kovalchuk and others that are playing here (NHL). I think its really great! Best of luck to you!
Gera: Of course we will always remember people that used to play hockey in the past and left their imprint in development of Russian hockey. They continue to be actively involved in hockey.
Alyonka: Dad, if we can we want to talk a little bit more about hockey. First we would like to find out how you started out playing for the famous line, with Krutov, Makarov, Larionov. Recently you had your 25 year anniversary and i was there with you in Moscow. I am just very interested how was it for you to b reunited with some of your best friends and everything that you guys accomplished together. How was that for you?
Igor: Well we are talking about decade that we spent together, all five of us. Not just 3 players but we also had 2 great defensemen. Very talanted Slava Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov. Anyway when this anniversary was celebrated in Moscow and we got together, of course it was great to see everyone. Not just see but interact with everyone, and get on ice. Even after so many years of not playing together when we came out on ice, with the first touch of the puck the mutual hockey understanding that we have developed over many years came back. The mastery of the game, the masterpieces we were able to perform on ice we were able to remember it and keep it. The game we played in Moscow that day was a proof that we still had the same talant and the same hockey we used to have. Its not dead, we were able to keep it, preserve it, and we would like to show it and pass it on to the new generation.
Alyonka: Its very interesting when you are talking about new generation. What did you guys have together… the chemistry that you were able to achieve on ice. Do you see anything similar for any current line in NHL?
Igor: You know its very difficult to compare and maybe even not ethical. We had the opportunity when they put us all together, two of us were from Moscow CSKA Krutov and Fetisov, Makarov was from Chelyabinsk, i was from Voskresensk, and Kasatonov was from Saint Petersburg or Leningrad. It just happend that all of us were different but we all thought the same way and played hockey, we completed and complimented each other (on ice). For us it wasn’t so important who scores the goal, it was more important how we play the game and do as a team. That was the level of our mastership, talent, and improvisation, thirst for being the best, the magic that we were able to come up with on ice it was very difficult to stop. Out of 5 people we had the danger could come from each and any one of us, defensemen or forwards alike. Of course having such a goalie as Tretiak who was playing at the time it was much easier to realize yourself knowing that he was behind your back. I think we just had great trust and understand in one another, and what we were doing and trying to accomplish. We didn’t really have many practiced plays but rather we could feel each other on the ice. Sometimes even without looking we knew where we were on the ice and this gave us a huge advantage over other teams. This is why its really hard for me to try to compare to current teams and line in NHL since there isnt really a concept of a 5 guys playing together day after day, game after game, year after year. We can talk about individual players that play in similar manner but a combination of 5 or even 3 players this concert doesn’t really exist now.
Gera: Dear friend unfortunately our show has come to an end. We have only a few minutes left. I’d like to let you know if you have any questions that you would like to ask any player, Russian or even not Russian.
Oleg: Maybe Ukrainian!
Gera: You can always send us an email, with questions, wishes, comments, NXLNaRusskom@nhl.ru or you could send individual emails to any one of us. My email is gera@nhl.ru
Oleg: oleg@nhlpenguins.ru
Alyonka: Of course mine is alena@nhlpenguins.ru
Gera: Dear friends thank you very much that you were listening to us. I am hoping that we will meet on air many more times.
Oleg: You will send us many emails.
Alyonka: Don’t forget to listen to us next week. We have big surprises for you. Big surprise guests.
Oleg: In show repeats you will be able to listen to full uncut interviews, Igor Larionov and Evgeni Malkin. You can also check out our website at any time. http://nhlpenguins.ru/
Alyonka: Also if you want to see what we look like.
Oleg: I am not sure anyone wants to see what me and Gera look like however, Alyonka is a different story.
All: Thank you very much, best of luck.
number of view: 2349Tags: Alyonka Larionov, Evgeni Malkin, Gera "George" Birman, Igor Larionov, Oleg Mejeritski
LOVE this!!!
Evgeni Malkin is a god.
Spacibo SO much for your translation.