In the final home opener of Alex Ovechkin’s NHL career Wednesday, it’s only fitting that he and the Washington Capitals will face fellow legend Sidney Crosby and the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.
Ovechkin, 41, announced Monday that his 22nd NHL campaign will be his last. The NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer at 929 and counting told his teammates of his decision and shared a statement on social media.
“It was important for me to make this announcement before our first home game,” Ovechkin wrote in part. “So I have the chance to thank all the people around the game, everyone who has been so important to me and my family and helped me through the good times and through losses.”
Wednesday will mark the 76th regular-season matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby, with three more scheduled this season. Crosby’s Penguins hold the upper hand with a 43-28-4 record in those matchups.
Ovechkin (2004) and Crosby (2005) were both No. 1 overall picks and began their careers in 2005-06 after the lockout wiped out the 2004-05 campaign.
The two have combined for five Hart trophies (league MVP), 11 Rocket Richard trophies (top goal-scorer), three Art Ross trophies (points leader) and four Stanley Cups.
Crosby, 39, is seventh all-time with 1,763 points, including 654 goals, and has averaged a point per game for a record 21 seasons. Ovechkin is 10th in points with 1,688.
Among his numerous accolades, Ovechkin has led the league in goals nine times and holds the record for consecutive seasons (21) of at least 20 goals from the start of a career. He has scored 30 goals or more in every season except for the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, when he potted 24 in 45 games.
The stars’ teams have met in four playoff series, with the Penguins winning three.
“Definitely have had some great battles over the years,” Crosby said. “Obviously, once you get to our age, that’s something that you have to make decisions on. And for him, as long as he’s happy and enjoying it, that’s the biggest thing.”
Along with Crosby, Ovechkin’s career has been intertwined with that of fellow Russian superstar and Crosby’s teammate Evgeni Malkin, the No. 2 overall pick to Ovechkin in 2004.
“I mean, he’s done everything. He’s played like, what, 22 years? Probably he understands, like, (the) league really good. It’s not easy, same as myself. I don’t know, maybe it’s my last year too,” said the 40-year-old Malkin, who is in his 21st season.
“But I still love this game. But again, it’s not easy to play every night, but it’s hard because, like, he’s a legend. The fans love him, you know? But again, he did everything for a team, a league. I hope he plays good this year, no injury. He just stay healthy, score goals and enjoy the game.”
While Ovechkin surpassed all-time greats Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky in goals, Malkin matched Howe in the first two games of the 2026-27 season by scoring a goal in each contest. Howe had been the only 40-year-old to accomplish that feat, which he achieved in the 1968-69 campaign.
Both teams are coming off a defeat, as the Penguins dropped a 3-2 decision to the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Monday night and the Capitals lost 3-1 to the host Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
