For two decades, energy and intensity have been the defining characteristics when two of the NHL’s most iconic stars, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, have collided on the ice.
Thursday evening at PPG Paints Arena marks the 73rd installment of that battle, with the Washington Capitals visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins in both clubs’ regular-season finale.
The Capitals (51-21-9) take the ice as the top team in the Eastern Conference, with a first-round playoff series vs. the Montreal Canadiens looming.
For the Penguins (33-36-12), Thursday is simply the final game of the year in a third consecutive non-postseason campaign.
“It’s a little different stakes than it typically is this time of year,” Crosby said. “I don’t know what their lineup is going to be, but we’d like to finish on a good note here. I think that’s important for us. But, that’s how I view it.”
On the individual front, it’s been an eventful season for both Ovechkin and Crosby.
Ovechkin, 39, broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record April 6, scoring No. 895 against the New York Islanders to become the NHL’s new leader.
Crosby, who turns 38 in August, also surpassed a Gretzky record, securing his 20th consecutive point-per-game season with a goal against the Buffalo Sabres on March 27.
“It’s pretty cool,” Ovechkin said. “We came to the league at the same time and to break those records. It’s pretty special.”
At the end of March, when Crosby reached the point-per-game plateau for the 20th straight time, Ovechkin reached out, not oblivious to the fact that his longtime peer and rival had broken one of Gretzky’s long-standing records.
A few weeks later, when Ovechkin overtook Gretzky in career goals, Crosby returned the favor.
While the periodic back-and-forths over text between the two players may not be overly sentimental, the gesture stands out.
“It shows lots of respect and if something happens with him, if he breaks a record, I’m always texting him and saying ‘Congrats, man. Keep going.’ Same with him,” Ovechkin said.
Both Crosby and Ovechkin admitted that their personal relationship took years to blossom.
Granted, starting out in the NHL as teenagers from opposite corners of the world, billed from the beginning in the media as rivals, may not have been conducive early on to forging close ties.
There were also fierce on-ice battles, as Crosby and Ovechkin steered their franchises into contending for the Stanley Cup on a regular basis.
The Penguins also eliminated Washington en route to Stanley Cup titles in 2009, 2016 and 2017, before the Capitals got revenge in 2018, knocking out Pittsburgh in the playoffs before winning their first championship in franchise history.
On top of that, as they both grew into prolific scorers, Crosby and Ovechkin competed for bragging rights and individual awards.
But ultimately, all of those circumstances did not prevent the two from developing a friendship.
“Over the years, we’ve seen a lot of each other on the ice,” Crosby said. “But off it, whether it’s All-Star games or events or whatever it may be, I think just having the opportunity to get to know him a little bit more, I think that’s helped. You develop a friendship through those experiences and things like that. So, I think it’s been great.
“We’ve been at it a long time. So, it’s nice. It’s nice to have a relationship like that. Obviously, it’s still really competitive on the ice. So, that’s good, too.”
Ovechkin also credited sharing the ice at All-Star games as playing a role in allowing he and Crosby to better get to know one another.
“First couple years, we (didn’t) have a chance to talk,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously, there were lots of battles and scrums out there, but then, All-Star games, we have a chance to spend time together, go out for dinner and stay in the same locker room — it’s more time. It’s a good friendship and, first of all, it’s respect for each other.”
Heading into game No. 73 vs. one another, Crosby and the Penguins hold a 41-27-4 all-time record against Ovechkin and the Capitals.
For Ovechkin, Thursday evening could serve as one final tune-up before the playoffs begin.
As for Crosby, with one more point he’ll reach 90 for the third straight season and ninth time in his career.
While the circumstances of both players’ clubs may be considerably different, respect for one another and a desire to compete will continue to guide Crosby and Ovechkin on the ice.
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“We’ve played against each other for a long time and hopefully we can go out there and have a good game,” Crosby said.