Among the All-Time Greats

They have led their teams (tied or outright) in goals 30 times (Crosby: 10; Ovechkin: 20), assists 15 times (Crosby: 12; Ovechkin: 3) and points 29 times (Crosby: 15; Ovechkin: 14). Both are in contention to add to one or more of those counts in 2025-26. Ovechkin’s 20 seasons as a team’s goals leader are by far the most in NHL history (Gordie Howe: 15), while Crosby and Anze Kopitar (all w/ LAK) trail only Wayne Gretzky (19x; 9 w/ EDM, 7 w/ LAK, 3 w/ NYR) and Howe (17x, all w/ DET) for the most seasons as any team’s points leader – with Ovechkin right behind them. From a single franchise perspective, Crosby can move within one campaign of matching Howe’s mark set with Detroit.

Staples in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Since 2005-06, at least one of the Penguins or Capitals has qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs 19 times (including 2026 after Crosby and PIT clinched Thursday). That span includes 13 years in which both Crosby and Ovechkin played in the postseason (there were 14 seasons with both PIT & WSH in the playoffs, but Crosby did not play in the 2011 SCP).

The winner of their four head-to-head series has gone on to win the Stanley Cup each time: Crosby in 2009, 2016 and 2017, followed by Ovechkin in 2018. Across their 25 head-to-head playoff games, only once were both players held off the score sheet (Game 2 of 2016 R2). They combined for 63 points across those games (Crosby: 13-17—30; 13-12 record, 3 series wins; Ovechkin: 15-18—33; 12-13 record, 1 series win).

Faces of Their Franchise

Seven No. 1 picks have spent their entire NHL career with the franchise that drafted them, as have 38 players who have skated 1,000+ games (these lists exclude all active players – including Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin – but include Anze Kopitar, who has announced his retirement after this season). Crosby and Ovechkin have met more than any No. 1 picks in League history and more than any players who currently occupy a top 10 spot on the all-time points list.

Among each player’s long list of records – detailed below at an NHL level – are long lists of franchise benchmarks, including goals and points for Ovechkin, and for Crosby assists and points. Both are within reach of claiming the outstanding major franchise scoring benchmark: Ovechkin for assists and Crosby for goals.

The Final Weekend is Upon Us

The NHL enters the final weekend of the 2025-26 regular season and after 1,260 games played – 96% of the total schedule – and 52 games remaining across six days, Saturday’s 15-game schedule will see five teams have the possibility to clinch a playoff berth, a tripleheader on ABC that includes five teams either in a playoff spot or closing in on clinching one and the 100th all-time meeting between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.