Crosby, Ovechkin bring 'cool' relationship into Penguins-Capitals game

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby will undoubtedly play with the same intensity they always have when Ovechkin's Washington Capitals host Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins at Capital One Arena on Friday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN, TVAS, NHL LIVE).

But after 17 seasons of battling in one of the NHL's most heated rivalries, a growing appreciation for each other's accomplishments has developed into a friendlier relationship outside the game.
They even text each other sometimes.
"We can talk to each other," Ovechkin said. "We can text each other if we have some questions. It's pretty cool."
Crosby said he believes this progression has come naturally from playing against each other so often and getting to spend some non-competitive time together at events such as the NHL All-Star Game in 2017 and 2018 and when each was named among the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.
"It's been good to kind of get to the know the person," Crosby said. "Obviously, the competition is fierce on the ice, but, yeah, I think that part has definitely evolved."
Despite the rivalry between them, the evolution makes sense. No player knows better what the other has experienced since they entered the NHL in the 2005-06 season.
Ovechkin, a left wing selected No. 1 in the 2004 NHL Draft, was expected to turn around the Capitals' fortunes. Crosby, a center selected No. 1 in the 2005 NHL Draft, was expected to do the same for the Penguins. Together, they were expected to lift the NHL following the lockout that caused the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.
Somehow, they've exceeded everything the Capitals, the Penguins and the NHL could've hoped.
As captain, Crosby has helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cup championships (2009, 2016, 2017), going through the Capitals in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs each time. As captain, Ovechkin finally helped the Capitals get past Crosby and the Penguins in the second round in 2018, and they went on to win the Stanley Cup for the first time.
Ovechkin is fourth in NHL history with 750 goals and quickly closing in on Jaromir Jagr, who is third with 766. The 36-year-old's 1,361 points (750 goals, 611 assists) in 1,223 games are second among active players behind Joe Thornton of the Florida Panthers (1,533 points in 1,694 games).

Crosby is third among active players with 1,338 points (490 goals, 848 assists) in 1,052 games. The 34-year-old's average of 1.27 points per game is second among active players behind Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (1.43). Ovechkin is averaging 1.11 points per game, fourth among active players.
Crosby led the NHL in points in 2006-07 (120) and 2013-14 (104), led the NHL in goals in 2009-10 (51) and 2016-17 (44), and won the Hart Trophy voted as the NHL most valuable player in 2006-07 and 2013-14. Ovechkin has led the NHL in goals a record nine times, led the NHL in points in 2007-08 (112), won the Calder Trophy voted as the NHL rookie of the year in 2005-06, and won the Hart Trophy in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2012-13.
"There's a commonality of what they're doing," ESPN analyst and former NHL forward Ray Ferraro said. "How many guys know what it's like to be the focal point of their team for your whole career? How many know what that's really like?"
They will be the focal point of the ESPN+ coverage, which will feature a "Star Watch" alternate feed with cameras isolated on Crosby and Ovechkin.
Ovechkin this season is off to the best start of his NHL career with 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games. The start of Crosby's season was delayed seven games while he recovered from wrist surgery. After making his season debut Oct. 30, Crosby missed another five games while in NHL COVID-19 protocol.
But he's been building his game since returning for a 6-1 loss to the Capitals on Nov. 14 and has scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 13 games, including 11 (three goals, eight assists) during an active six-game point streak.
"It's pretty clear they viewed each other as the direct rival for each other," Ferraro said. "But I'm sure after all this time and these games, they would have built up so much respect for what the other can do."

That respect was evident when Crosby told Ovechkin at the NHL Player Media Tour in September that he was rooting for him to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL record of 894 goals.
"I've played against him for 17 years and seen how consistent he's been and know how difficult it is coming in with expectations and all the pressure that comes along with being a first pick, and he's surpassed those expectations and done more," Crosby said. "So to be in the situation he's in, to have a chance at it, for as much as he's put into it over the years, I think it would be great to see him to do it."
Ovechkin said the encouragement from Crosby "meant a lot" and that he would be rooting for Crosby if their situations were reversed.
"Of course, the first couple of years it was a rivalry," Ovechkin said. "I'm Russian. He's Canadian. There was a language barrier. But right now, we are grown-up men. We both appreciate what we've done for the League."
So it's no big deal for them to text each other occasionally. Crosby said the texting initially involved mostly NHL Players' Association-related info, but like their relationship, it's evolved.
"I wouldn't say anything specific," Crosby said. "But it could be a congratulatory text or just, 'What do you think about this?' or 'Did you see that?'"
Getting to know each other better and being on texting terms probably isn't enough to call Crosby and Ovechkin friends. Perhaps that comes after they retire and they no longer have to go through each other to win the Stanley Cup.
But they still look forward to facing each other, which they will do Friday for the 60th time in the regular season. Going by their track records, expect them to deliver again.
According to NHL Stats, Crosby has scored 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists), and Ovechkin has scored 58 points (31 goals, 27 assists) in the 59 regular-season games between them.
"I think it brings out the best in us, and I think he'd probably say the same thing," Crosby said. "It brings out the best in us individually and in our teams. I think everyone gets up for those games, and that's the fun part about playing in the League and being NHL players is having that kind of competition."