Russian superstars compete in the Philadelphia Flyers vs. Washington Capitals game

The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers always team up to play exciting hockey. That's exactly the expectation in the Metropolitan Division, where rivalries are fierce. But this year the Flyers and Capitals drama is taking a new twist.

The Flyers welcomed a new addition to their organization this season: Russian winger Matvei Michkov signed his entry-level contract with the team. He entered just a year after being selected seventh overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, but at 19 years old, he's already brimming with superstar potential. This match marks the first time that Michkov will face his compatriot and probable idol Alexander Ovechkin.

Michkov is in many ways the spiritual successor to Ovechkin. Both were great in the KHL as teenagers and want to continue the Russian tradition of outstanding hockey players in the NHL.

MIchkov is none other than Ovi on the ice. Ovi is a towering presence at 6-foot-3, while Michkov gives up about five inches at 5-foot-7. But what makes them similar is their magnetic attraction to the puck. Whether it's finding the perfect seam for a pass or being in just the right spot for a rebound follow-up, both players are always in the best possible position to pass the puck. No wonder they score and prepare goals so often.

For Ovechkin, it's a chance to show who the best Russian player in the world is. Ovi may be at the end of one of the best hockey careers of all time, but he is still dangerous on every shift. He's aiming for the all-time goalscoring record this season, and at 39, he could accomplish a feat thought impossible: overtaking Wayne Gretzky.

There is no doubt that these players will have mutual respect, similar to Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. It's a camaraderie that comes from being from the same country. But when the game starts, that falls away and the on-ice rivalry takes over. It may be an early-season divisional duel for the Flyers and Caps, but the battle of generations of Russian players will certainly be the story of the game.

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