Alex Ovechkin has been an arch-villain in these parts almost from the moment he broke into the NHL with the Capitals in 2005.
He's also been one of the NHL's most consistent and prolific goal-scorers since then.
Think there might be a connection between those two realities?
Ovechkin ranks fourth on the league's all-time regular-season goals list with 759, placing him behind only Wayne Gretzky (894), Gordie Howe (801) and Jaromir Jagr (766).
His total includes 36 in 67 games against the Penguins, and he will try to swell that number when the teams meet tonight at 7:08 at PPG Paints Arena.
Ovechkin enters the game with 29 goals, putting him two behind Chris Kreider and Leon Draisaitl in the race for the Rocket Richard Trophy. Not that Ovechkin needs another, since he's already won nine.
"He's one of the greatest goal-scorers of all-time, not just his generation," Mike Sullivan said after the Penguins' optional game-day skate. "The velocity of his shot, the accuracy of his shot, his ability to get to the spots that he needs to get to to avail himself to unleash his shot has allowed him to score the amount of goals that he's scored."
He called Ovechkin "a generational talent," and noted that opponents have to be aware of him whenever he goes over the boards.
"He's a guy you have to pay attention to when he's on the ice, because he doesn't need a whole lot of room to get a shot off," Sullivan said. "Certainly, he's a threat most times when he's out there."
Ovechkin and his teammates will be operating against a defense corps that will be at least a bit diluted.
Chad Ruhwedel, who plays on the third pairing, has entered the Covid protocol and will not play, while Sullivan said Brian Dumoulin will be a game-time decision because of assorted "bumps and bruises."
Any time the Penguins and Capitals meet, it is depicted in some quarters as a showdown between Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. While both teams have several other exceptional players, Sullivan said it's understandable that the focus generally falls on those two.
"These guys are still elite players and they have elite hockey in their game," he said. "And they're showing it through their performance, night-in and night-out. These guys have the benefit of their experience. They're both Stanley Cup champions, so they've been to the top of the mountain. And I think the benefit of that experience has served them well."
MORE FROM THE SKATE
• Tristan Jarry will start in goal for the Penguins.
• The Penguins recalled defenseman Juuso Riikola and put him on the taxi squad. Riikola arrived in time for the skate, where he was joined by Jeff Carter, Mark Friedman, Mike Matheson, Evgeni Malkin, Marcus Pettersson, Radim Zohorna, Dominik Simon, Kasper Bjorkqvist, Michael Chaput, Brian Boyle, P.O Joseph, Casey DeSmith and Jarry.
• Sullivan, assessing Zohorna's game since he came to North America before last season: "We think (Zohorna) has a pretty complete game. His pace has improved in his time with us, both in Pittsburgh and in Wilkes(-Barre). For a guy who brings the size that he brings, he has great playmaking ability. He has good hands with the puck. He has good offensive instincts. The biggest thing for me is watching the pace of his game evolve. That, for me, is what's going to allow him to be a consistent NHL player."
• Injured forward Drew O'Connor had another on-ice workout before the optional. He again wore a track suit and was accompanied by skills coach Ty Hennes.
• Because the skate was optional, there were no personnel combinations of consequence.