MONTREAL -- The Russian ice might have thawed a bit.

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin and Washington winger Alex Ovechkin talked briefly yesterday before the Eastern Conference All-Stars met with the media. During the interview session, the two agreed to pose together for a few photos, in which they were smiling.

"It's good. It's not a problem," said Malkin, who, for several games when their teams met, was the target of many thunderous Ovechkin hits or attempted hits.

Ovechkin said the same thing.

"We just shake hands," he said, adding that he would be fine with the idea of Eastern Conference coach Claude Julien playing him and Malkin on the same line in the game tomorrow.

Malkin agreed.

"It's great. Maybe he pass [to] me, I score, or I pass [to] him, he score," Malkin said. "He's a great player."

There were reports of an offseason confrontation involving a couple punches -- though not necessarily thrown at each other -- but Malkin and Ovechkin previously were friends. They were teammates during the 2006 Olympics.

Atlanta All-Star Ilya Kovalchuk denied any problem.

"Hockey is a physical sport, and they just play the game the right way," he said.

"When they're just in regular life, they're good buddies. We are all from Russia, so it's all good."

Malkin said he, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Montreal All-Star Alex Kovalev, another Russian, were considering a night out together this weekend.

Just in time for the All-Star weekend, the NHL Players Association announced it would not invoke a clause that allowed it to reopen the collective bargaining agreement with the league. Team union representatives voted Thursday to leave the CBA as is until it expires in two years.

"Times are tough. We want to play. We don't want another lockout," San Jose All-Star Joe Thornton said.

"For us, it's a no-brainer. We want to play hockey.

"To be on a big stage like here at the All-Star Game, there's no better time to say that, hey, we're committed to playing and we'll worry about [a new CBA] when it comes down the road."

League commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement: "This announcement certifies the players' endorsement of the collective bargaining agreement and affirms that the system is working in the manner anticipated from its inception. We are extremely pleased that the league and the players now can move forward together and that the fans' focus can remain on the ice, where it belongs."

In a drawing conducted by two goaltenders from each conference, Malkin was selected to face Boston's Tim Thomas in the first round of the shootout, the final event of the SuperSkills competition tonight.

He is 1 of 2 in shootouts against Thomas.

Malkin also will compete in the accuracy shooting event, and Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will play in the YoungStars Game, which pits rookies against Letang and other "sophomores" in a three-on-three match-up.

Chicago's Patrick Kane said those in the breakaway challenge tonight have a mission.

"It's going to be fun to see what different moves guys have," he said. "They've been saying we're looking for the YouTube goal -- try to get on YouTube and try to get a million hits."

Lightning All-Star and captain Vincent Lecavalier admitted he was bothered by rampant reports earlier this month that Tampa Bay was about to trade him or was trying to trade him.

"We were in California, and it was a pretty hectic couple days," he said.

"Usually, there are rumors, but this one seemed to have a lot of legs. I was getting calls from family and friends."

Lightning management emphatically denied the reports.