Alex Ovechkin is the NHL’s all-time leader in power-play goals with 312, and the next best on the list, the long-retired Dave Andreychuk, is 38 goals behind him.
Given his historic success on the man advantage, especially in “Ovi’s Office” in the left faceoff circle, any all-time power play unit would likely include the Great Eight — even if the person setting the lineup has played on the wrong side of Ovechkin’s success for nearly two decades.
Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin’s longtime rival and sometimes BFF, proved that hypothesis correct in a recent media spot with B/R Open Ice.
When asked to come up with his “dream” five-man power play unit, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain quickly rattled off Ovechkin’s name.
“You are putting me on the spot right now,” Crosby said. “Mario, Wayne, Ovi in his spot, Stevie Y. That’s a lot of righties, though. We’re thinking about scoring. We’re not worried about getting a shorty against.”
Sidney Crosby’s dream power play
When asked who would be the triggermen of the unit, Crosby went with Ovechkin and Mario Lemieux. Lemieux owns a not-too-shabby 236 career power-play goals of his own, good for the eighth most in league history.
“Ovechkin or Mario,” Crosby said. “Vintage Wayne behind the net looking at all these different options. Mario or Ovi are probably putting them in.”
Alongside Ovechkin, all the other picks were likely no-brainers for Crosby.
Gretzky is the all-time leader in power-play points and famously patrolled “Gretzky’s Office,” the area behind the net in the offensive zone.
Crosby witnessed Lemieux’s strength on the power play firsthand, playing with him on the Penguins during his rookie season and living with the Lemieux family for five years before buying his own house.
Yzerman was the epitome of a winning Canadian captain in his playing days and was Crosby’s favorite player growing up.
The five men have recorded a combined 3,331 power-play points (1,127g, 2,204a). Crosby is the “weakest link” with his 563 career points while up a man.
Full power-play points breakdown
| Player | Points | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | 890 | 204 | 686 |
| Mario Lemieux | 701 | 236 | 465 |
| Steve Yzerman | 595 | 202 | 393 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 582 | 312 | 270 |
| Sidney Crosby | 563 | 173 | 390 |
The kind words from Crosby come as the two superstars are playing in their 20th seasons in the NHL. The two greats have had one of the most marketed and spoken about rivalries in pro sports since they first entered the NHL together in 2005. While that rivalry has gotten heated at times, the two now elder statesmen of the league have found more common ground in recent years.
Their friendship has materialized in the public eye largely through their attendance at NHL All-Star festivities, where fans get the rare chance to watch the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins captains play on the same team and even on the same line.
This also isn’t the first time Ovechkin or Crosby has been asked about potential linemates. In 2022, Crosby asked Ovechkin —via Monumental Sports Network’s Tarik El-Bashir — who he’d want as right wing if the two played on a line together, with Ovechkin naming legendary NHL enforcer Donald Brashear.
Crosby and Ovechkin will share the ice for the 70th regular-season matchup of their careers when the Capitals and Penguins face off on November 8 at Capital One Arena.
