As Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby enter their 20th season with the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins respectively, their long-standing rivalry remains one of the most compelling in sports. Since their debut in the 2005-06 NHL season, both have dominated the league and helped revitalize the NHL after the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 campaign.
“We saved the NHL,” Ovechkin remarked in 2023, reflecting on their impact.
Now, two decades into their careers, Ovechkin and Crosby continue to lead their teams as captains, still producing offensively and approaching historic milestones. Crosby is just four points shy of 1,600 for his career, and only 45 points away from tying Joe Sakic for ninth on the NHL’s all-time points list. Meanwhile, Ovechkin is chasing the seemingly impossible—Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record of 894, sitting just 42 goals behind “The Great One.”
Crosby, 37, recently shared his thoughts on their storied rivalry and Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky during the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. “To be in the same division, to have the history we have, and to see him this close to what was once thought untouchable—it’s incredible,” Crosby told Pittsburgh’s Michelle Crechiolo. “I feel grateful to be part of that. Hopefully, we’ve brought out the best in each other, and I hope we’ve got some strong years left.”
Crosby is among several players who have commented on Ovechkin’s pursuit of Gretzky’s goal record. The Penguins captain has previously expressed his hope that Ovechkin breaks the record, with the two having battled it out in countless games over the years. Last season, the Capitals and Penguins were separated by just three points in the standings, and Ovechkin and Crosby faced off in their 69th career matchup, splitting the season series 2-2. Each player recorded four points in those games, continuing their competitive balance.
Crosby enjoyed one of his best seasons in years, tallying 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists) in 82 games. Ovechkin, after a slow start, finished with a flourish, scoring 23 goals in his final 36 games, setting an NHL record with his 18th 30-goal season and reigniting talk of Gretzky’s record falling.
According to the NHL, Crosby and Ovechkin are on the verge of becoming the first pair of active players to rank among the top 10 on the league’s all-time points list since 2007-08 when Joe Sakic and Jaromir Jagr held those spots. Crosby is already there, and Ovechkin is just 46 points away from joining him.
Despite their rivalry, Ovechkin and Crosby have developed a genuine friendship over the years. This was evident during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game when Ovechkin and his son Sergei shared the ice with Crosby for a Breakaway Challenge. Reflecting on their relationship, Ovechkin said, “We both still enjoy playing hockey. I’m pretty sure when we’re both retired, we’ll have a couple of beers together and talk about everything from the past 15, 16 years.”
Their relationship has evolved since their early years when they were more adversarial. “In the beginning, it was different. We were young, but now we’ve matured. We’re good friends, and we stay in touch.”
Though their friendship has grown, the rivalry between the Capitals and Penguins remains fierce. The teams will face off four times next season, starting on November 8 in Washington, D.C., and finishing on April 17, 2025, when both teams close out their regular seasons.
As both players near the end of their storied careers, their future matchups are limited. Ovechkin has two seasons left on his contract, while Crosby is signed for just one more, though he’s optimistic about extending his stay with Pittsburgh. Ovechkin, on the other hand, has hinted that he may retire when his current contract ends.
For now, fans should savor the remaining battles between these two hockey legends while they last.
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