For over 20 years, the NHL has been outlined by two gamers: Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
These two gamers have been linked collectively ever since they stepped on the rink reverse one another. Whether or not that was on the World Juniors or the World Championship, then once more, within the Nationwide Hockey League and on the Olympic stage, you possibly can’t point out one with out the opposite.
For years, we noticed this in males’s tennis with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. You possibly can say the identical factor with Nadal and Djokovic. Nevertheless, Federer and Nadal have been beloved tennis figures like Crosby and Ovechkin, who’re beloved figures within the NHL. There could be some disagreement on the latter assertion, however genuinely, folks wish to see prime gamers succeed, however perhaps not their groups a lot.
In case you take a look at what occurred on Sunday on Lengthy Island contained in the UBS Area as Ovechkin chased Gretzky for probably the most targets within the NHL, it was the identical feeling folks obtained when he was chasing his first Stanley Cup. Followers of the NHL and hockey followers generally needed to see it occur. Everybody concerned was thrilled as soon as Alex Ovechkin scored purpose 895 , passing Wayne Gretzky (894) for probably the most targets in NHL historical past.
ALEX OVECHKIN IS THE GREATEST GOALSCORER IN NHL HISTORY! ??? #Gr8ness pic.twitter.com/NKef3VvNaJ
— NHL (@NHL) April 6, 2025
Simply take a look at the thrill on his face. The Swan Dive onto the ice for the purpose celebration, just like the swan dive into the fountain after he received the Stanley Cup. With Wayne Gretzky, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and others in attendance at UBS Area, followers needed to see it occur. Ovechkin’s teammates, previous and current, have been there to see him break the document.
It was an amazing second for the game of hockey. No one, not even Ovechkin himself, thought {that a} document like this was going to be damaged. This was historical past within the making, whether or not you watched it on TV or paid the cash to get into the constructing. Whether or not it was New York Islanders followers or Washington Capitals followers who drove up, everybody was on the sting of their seat ready for him to attain the record-breaking purpose.
His long-time rival and buddy Sidney Crosby was watching on. As beforehand talked about, these guys are the NHL’s model of Federal and Nadal. You may debate who’s who within the NHL, however these guys have a lot respect for one another. They each got here into the league in 2005-06 after the 04-05 lockout. Ovechkin received the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Yr that yr, with Crosby proper behind him.
“I imply, it’s fairly uncommon that you just go head-to-head like that. Find yourself being in the identical division, coming in with these sorts of expectations and the playoff collection and the whole lot that goes together with it… it’s distinctive, and I undoubtedly respect it, and that’s one thing that’s nice for the sport of hockey,” Crosby instructed the media on Sunday. “Nevertheless it’s one thing that I feel there’s mutual respect there as nicely.”
Crosby has been nothing however respectful alongside the best way. He has such respect for the sport and was nothing however complimentary of Ovechkin breaking a document.
“It’s onerous to place into phrases,” stated Sidney Crosby, who instructed the media on Sunday after his Penguins misplaced to the Blackhawks. “Enjoying in opposition to one another for 20 years and him engaging in some nice issues over that point, however this one was in all probability thought to not be attainable, and he discovered a technique to do it. So, it’s fairly unbelievable. An incredible second for him, his household, his teammates, and clearly the entire league.”
And Ovechkin was not the one one of many bunch to interrupt a Gretzky document this season. Possibly not as attractive because the purpose document, however actually an accomplishment was Crosby notching his twentieth season averaging a degree per recreation. Crosby and Gretzky have been tied at 19 seasons every, averaging a degree per recreation. Two information taking place the drain by two of the all-time greats in NHL historical past.
?Night time Cap Recap ?
Alex Ovechkin Makes Historical past Objective 895 #allcaps #isles #nhl #Gr8Chase pic.twitter.com/BkwAfZ5cIy
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) April 6, 2025
Take into consideration what these two have achieved. Ovechkin, now 39, who missed 16 video games this season with a damaged leg and went on a tear with 27 targets within the final 42 video games, together with 20 targets within the final 27 video games. He scored targets in 5 straight to interrupt the document. He was already on fireplace to start out the yr with 15 targets within the first 18 video games earlier than the harm. Had he not gotten damage, Ovechkin wouldn’t have notched his tenth 50-goal season, breaking one other document with Gretzky and Mike Bossy for 9 50-goal seasons.
Crosby, now 37 happening 38, nonetheless has two extra seasons left along with his new contract kicking on this July 1st. He continues to place the Penguins on his pack. He simply notched one other 30-goal season and continues to be a mannequin of consistency within the NHL. Ovechkin has yet one more yr left on his deal. We all know what he has stated as soon as the document was damaged and the contract was accomplished; he was going to retire.
Nevertheless, if these guys are going to play at this excessive degree, they may play into their 40s. Once you say it might probably’t be accomplished, there’s Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin as soon as once more defying the percentages. Whether or not it’s a down season or getting back from an harm, who would have thought they might have joint on the hip for this lengthy?
Whether or not followers appreciated it or not, the NHL selected correctly, making Crosby and Ovechkin the faces of the sport for near twenty years as a result of with out one, there isn’t the opposite.
