Evgeni Malkin or Alexander Ovechkin??? If you’re a true puck supporter, then you know who we’re pumping up here. Only arguably the two leading candidates for the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

If you know Russian as I do, here’s it in simpler terms?

Malkun-Da y Net

Obechkun-Da y Net

Both Russian superstars have lit the NHL on fire taking still a predominantly North American influenced league by storm. With a less than two months remaining in an exciting regular season, it’s no surprise that these two high caliber players are 1-2 in the NHL scoring race.

With another virtuoso performance notching a tying goal on a breakaway and assisting on two others including teammate Sergei Gonchar’s power play winner with under 10 minutes left in the third period of a great 5-4 win over the Canadiens Thursday night, the 21 year-old Malkin became the first player this season to reach 80 points. In fact, his 35 goals and 47 helpers for 82 points pace the league.

Since last year’s Hart winner Sidney Crosby went down to a sprained ankle, the super soph has taken it upon himself to carry his team on his back lifting them to a first place tie with the Devils and within a point of conference leader Ottawa. It was the eight multi-point game of what’s been a brilliant month in which he’s registered a point in all 10 games.

Just how remarkable has he been? According to Elias Sports Bureau, Malkin was tied for 13th in league scoring with 58 points at the end of January. That means that in only 10 games so far in February, he already has 24 points (8-16-24) with still four games left to play including an afternoon home tilt against the Senators with the top spot up for grabs.

While Malkin has stepped out of Crosby’s shadow, his Russian comrade Ovechkin has been having his own special season with the Capitals. The former 2005-06 Calder winner is trying to get his team into their first postseason since 2002-03.

Even without free agent pickup Michael Nylander (out for season), the 22 year-old former Caps’ first overall selection has been flat out awesome in his third NHL campaign. He leads the league in four different offensive categories including goals (48), power play goals (17), shots on goal (328) and is tied with Calgary’s Jarome Iginla and Dallas’ Niklas Hagman for game-winners (8).

It’s no wonder Washington rewarded their electrifying franchise superstar with an NHL record 13-year contract worth over $124 million almost six weeks ago.

Why not? In not even three full seasons, Ovechkin has scored 146 goals, tallied 130 assists already totaling 276 points in just 224 games.

His 78 points (48-30-78) trail only Malkin putting him four behind for the league scoring race. It looks like Tampa Bay’s Vincent Lecavalier (32-45-77) could be the only marquee player who stands between the exciting Russian pair from going 1-2 in points.

However, unless his spiraling team does a remarkable turnaround, Lecavalier’s name won’t be coming up for the league MVP.

The real question is who deserves it more? Hard to say. There’s little doubt that Malkin has a better supporting cast. However, when Crosby went down, he suddenly became his team’s best player and stepped up forming solid chemistry with linemates Ryan Malone and Petr Sykora. How do you think Sykora went from close to done to suddenly reemerging as a reliable threat? He’s on pace for his best season in at least five years while Malone needs three more goals to set a new career high.

When Crosby returns, there’s no way coach Michel Therrien can break up the trio. So, will the Pens be a better team when he comes back? If he’s soooo great, then he should be able to play with any other two forwards on their roster.

Ovechkin’s team must win their division to make the postseason. They currently sit second in the Southeast with 63 points trailing first place Carolina by four. The good news is they have three more games remaining than the Hurricanes, who have just 18 left. The bad news is they have 28 wins- three less than their rival with Wins being the first tiebreaker if the teams finish tied on the final day of the season.

It’s a dumb rule. One NHL brass needs to change. Why should that decide who gets in? It should either be who wins the season series or a play-in game. I personally like the second option. Make it like baseball. One game with the winner going on a la the Rockies last Fall. The loser goes home. It would work.

I’ve said in this space before that if Ovechkin gets his team in, he should win the Hart. No player means more to his team than AO. His 48 goals have accounted for 28.1 percent of Washington’s 171. The next highest goalscorer on their roster is fellow Russian Alexander Semin with 17 and he’s only played 42 games. Defenseman Mike Green is third with 15.

In case you’re wondering, you won’t find a larger discrepancy between the top finisher and second scorer on any other NHL roster. Out of curiosity, Malkin’s 35 of the Pens’ 176 is a shade under 20 percent.

So, who is the better player? Most including yours truly would’ve laughed at this same question if it were posed to us a couple of months prior.

It’s no laughing matter anymore. Just two of the league’s elite players who have one thing in common. They’re both Russian.

Ochenb ochenb xorosho!!!!!