Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are playing in their 100th career game against each other, regular season and playoffs combined.
Dylan Strome did his part to honor one of the NHL’s greatest rivalries by getting kicked out of the opening faceoff and allowing Ovechkin to take the draw against Crosby.
Alex Ovechkin takes opening faceoff against Sidney Crosby
“GIVE ME ONE,” Ovechkin yelled to Crosby as he entered the dot, per mic’d up video posted by Monumental Sports Network.
Ovechkin lost the faceoff decisively, but the gesture showed incredible respect to the NHL legends, who have been two of the league’s best players since first entering the league in 2005-06.
“I gotta give credit to the referee (Chris Rooney) there,” Strome said. “He thought it was a good idea. I was obviously all in. Thankfully they didn’t score on the play. They got a decent chance on it. It was a nice little tribute. I was obviously fine with it. I stepped aside and the let the two big guys handle it.”
The Penguins posted mic’d up video of Crosby.
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are playing in their 100th career game against each other, regular season and playoffs combined.
Dylan Strome did his part to honor one of the NHL’s greatest rivalries by getting kicked out of the opening faceoff and allowing Ovechkin to take the draw against Crosby.
Alex Ovechkin takes opening faceoff against Sidney Crosby
“GIVE ME ONE,” Ovechkin yelled to Crosby as he entered the dot, per mic’d up video posted by Monumental Sports Network.
Ovechkin lost the faceoff decisively, but the gesture showed incredible respect to the NHL legends, who have been two of the league’s best players since first entering the league in 2005-06.
“I gotta give credit to the referee (Chris Rooney) there,” Strome said. “He thought it was a good idea. I was obviously all in. Thankfully they didn’t score on the play. They got a decent chance on it. It was a nice little tribute. I was obviously fine with it. I stepped aside and the let the two big guys handle it.”
The Penguins also posted mic’d up video of Crosby.
“I didn’t have him in the pre-scout,” Penguins assistant coach Nick Bonino said. “That’s all you.”
“I think that’s the first time I ever took against him,” observed Crosby.
Not only did Ovechkin and Crosby take the opening faceoff, but Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse also gave the start to Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The game had special significance beyond the possibility of it being the last time Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby meet; Ovechkin, who is unsure whether he will continue playing past his season, may have been playing in his final home game at Capital One Arena.
The draw was Ovechkin’s fourth faceoff of the 2025-26 season. Throughout his 21 seasons in the NHL, Ovechkin has taken 161 career draws, winning 35 percent of them.
Ovechkin also took photos with Crosby, Malkin, and Letang during pregame warmups.
Not only did Ovechkin and Crosby take the opening faceoff, but Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse also gave the start to Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The game had special significance beyond the possibility of it being the last time Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby meet; Ovechkin, who is unsure whether he will continue playing past his season, may have been playing in his final home game at Capital One Arena.
The draw was Ovechkin’s fourth faceoff of the 2025-26 season. Throughout his 21 seasons in the NHL, Ovechkin has taken 161 career draws, winning 35 percent of them.
Ovechkin also took photos with Crosby, Malkin, and Letang during pregame warmups.
