Russian forward Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins has publicly predicted that the Los Angeles Kings will reach the NHL playoff finals, a forecast that drew attention from fans across North America. The remark highlights the echoes of Malkin’s long career and the Kings’ recent form, a topic that Canadian and American hockey communities have tracked closely through the season.
Anna Kasterova, the wife of Malkin, relayed a confident outlook after a message appeared on a telegraph channel, stating that the Kings would be in the final. This assertion has added an extra layer of intrigue for followers who monitor both media channels and team news across the United States and Canada, where the Stanley Cup chase is a major winter spectacle.
In the current Stanley Cup opening round, the Los Angeles Kings are matched up against the Edmonton Oilers. Through the first portion of the series, the teams have traded wins, leaving the series tied at two games apiece. The high-tempo matchup features star power on both sides, with fans in the U.S. and Canada watching pivotal shifts, clutch plays, and strategic extra-time moments that often define playoff runs.
Looking back at the Penguins’ performance in the 2022/23 regular season, the franchise finished ninth in the Eastern Conference standings. For Pittsburgh and its supporters, this marked a setback relative to their championship years, yet it underscored the competitiveness of a deep, history-rich league that continues to deliver dramatic finishes and memorable comebacks for American and Canadian audiences alike.
Evgeni Malkin joined the Pittsburgh organization in 2006 and quickly became a cornerstone of the club. Over his tenure with the Penguins, he has captured the Stanley Cup three times, in 2006, 2010, and 2014, cementing his status among the franchise’s most celebrated players. On July 13, 2022, Malkin signed a new four-year contract with Pittsburgh, a deal valued at 24.4 million dollars. The agreement reflected the ongoing value he brings to the team as a veteran leader and a consistent offensive contributor, a topic of interest for fans watching the American and Canadian hockey markets where player longevity and loyalty are highly valued storytelling elements.
In another notable development within the league, Dmitry Orlov, a former Russian defenseman, made history with the Boston Bruins by becoming the first defenseman in team history to score in four consecutive NHL playoff games. Orlov’s achievement highlighted the level of sustained performance required to excel in playoff hockey, a narrative that resonates with fans across North America, especially those following the Bruins, Capitals, and league-wide postseason narratives.
For context, Orlov had been traded from the Washington Capitals to the Boston Bruins late in February, a move that reshaped the defensive lineup for both teams and added an extra layer of intrigue to the trade deadline period. This shift, like many others in the NHL, is closely watched by Canadian and American audiences who are tuned into how mid-season trades influence playoff momentum and team dynamics as the race toward the Stanley Cup intensifies.