There are few individual rivalries these days in the NHL but one of the few that does exist is as good as any in sports. Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals have been the two dominant players over the past decade.
To some, Crosby is considered the consummate good Canadian boy that is serious, works hard, and plays a full 200-foot game. To those who don’t like him, he is a whiny crybaby that often gets preferential treatment from officials that others couldn’t hope to get. If there is one thing hockey fans hate it is NBA style officiating with a star system. Crosby has one Stanley Cup in his career and is best known as the savior of a franchise that was on the verge of skipping town.
Ovechkin has tried to shed the enigmatic Russian label that comes with so many players from his homeland. Too many times he has been caught missing in action on the back check, frequently cheating for a breakaway chance. Yet in this era of shutdown drone systems and XXL sized goaltenders, he stands apart with his ability to dominate offensively. Like Crosby, Ovechkin has saved the Caps franchise. These days of sellout crowds and rocking the red at the Verizon Center were unfathomable before his arrival. Last year’s failures with Russia in the Olympics and with the Caps not making the playoffs hurt the Great Eight more than many realized, and he is playing with a purpose that has been previously unseen in his career.
Crosby had the better of the rivalry in its early years but it now looks as if The Great Eight may end up with the upper hand. Ovechkin will never earn the respect of many in the hockey world until he hoists Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Despite the Caps being one game behind the Pens, it is Washington that looks far more prepared for a deep playoff run.
It will be a rivalry renewed on NBCSN Wednesday Rivalry Night as the Washington Capitals will host the Pittsburgh Penguins. Faceoff from the Verizon Center is set for 8 p.m. ET.
What to Watch: The Washington power play is ranked second in the NHL but will face a strong test against a Penguins penalty killing unit that ranks fourth. Although Washington has improved significantly on defense, their penalty killing is still in the middle of the pack. The Caps and Pens are in a tight four team race in the Metropolitan Division that is led by the New York Islanders with 80 points, the New York Rangers with 78, Pittsburgh with 77, and Washington with 76. The team that finishes fourth will have to face the top team in the Atlantic Division which is more than enough incentive to dig hard for third place at the very least. Washington is in good form with seven wins in their last eight games while Pittsburgh has lost three out of their last five.
Penguins to Watch: Often lost in the hype that surrounds Ovechkin and Crosby is Pittsburgh center Evgeni Malkin, who has 24 goals and 34 assists. Malkin would get his due were he not in the shadow of Crosby and should be remembered for keeping Pittsburgh at a playoff level during times when Crosby was out with concussions. Defenseman Kris Letang leads a blue line corps that is noticeably thin. Letang has 10 goals, 37 assists and is a plus -11 against the top lines in the game. Goaltender Marc Andre Fleury continues to impress with a .925 save percentage. First-year head coach Mike Johnston has significantly improved the Penguins defensive structure despite their lack of depth. As for Crosby, he has 19 goals and 42 assists but just doesn’t look as dominant as the past.
Capitals to Watch: Ovechkin is playing with a passion and responsibility rarely seen in his career. The Great Eight has 38 goals, 23 assists and is a plus-12 and has impressed with his hard skating on the backend where he used to be invisible. Center Niklas Backstrom, like Malkin, often gets overlooked and yet he leads the Caps in scoring with 64 points based on 18 goals and 46 assists. Defensemen John Carlson and Mike Green have also elevated their games to top levels. Goaltender Braden Holtby is having a career year with a .924 save percentage and an aura of being ready to backstop a long playoff run. Coach Barry Trotz is getting rave reviews for his improvement of the Caps defensive structure.
Why to Watch: Raw hate, high stakes, and the two marquee names in the game. Last week Washington scored a 3-1 win at Pittsburgh that went from chippy, to nasty, to ridiculous in a third period that had 12 penalties. That usually means for a rematch that will be played at a higher quality.
