Ovechkin also said there was no intent to injure Crosby.
"It's hockey," he said. "As a player, you don't want to hurt someone and you don't want to see somebody on the ice with the doctors. But again, we're focusing on the games. This happens. It's [the media's] job to talk about what happened and we'll move forward. They are. I'm pretty sure they're going to be strong on the puck, they're going to play physical and it's going to be just a game."
Niskanen said if the Penguins seek retribution he'll deal with it.
"It's a hockey game," he said. "Hockey players are emotional guys. If that happens, we'll cross that bridge when it happens."
The Capitals know the Penguins are a formidable opponent; even without Crosby, with forwards Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel.
"Obviously, they still have lots of talented players, experienced players," Ovechkin said. "[Sidney is] their captain, their leader and he's the best player in the game and he's a key for their success. So I think Malkin is going to step up pretty big, so we have to play very smart against his line."
But there's no debating that losing Crosby, a Hart Trophy finalist and the Conn Smythe Trophy winner when Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup last season, creates a significant hole for the Penguins.
"They're still a darn good team, first and foremost," Niskanen said. "We're going to have to be real good to beat them, but he's the best player in the world and he's playing as good as anybody has ever seen him, so [he's] tough to replace for sure."