Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have been career adversaries, two of the best players in the sport pitted in one of the NHL’s most heated rivalries.
The Washington Capitals selected Ovechkin as the top overall pick in 2004, and the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Crosby first overall the following offseason. They both made their NHL debuts in 2005 because a lockout canceled the 2004-05 campaign, aligning their career trajectories together.
Crosby reached 1,000 career games on Saturday, recording two assists in the Penguins’ 3-2 win against the New York Islanders. And Ovechkin was one of those who congratulated Crosby on the mile mark.
“Hey Sid, congrats on your 1,000 game,” Ovechkin said in a video Pittsburgh tweeted. “It’s a huge number. It’s always a pleasure to play against you and compete against you. You are one of the best. Best of luck to you and your family. Enjoy the night. You deserve it, man.”
Crosby has tallied 468 goals and 810 assists in his 1,000 career games, and he’s a three-time Stanley Cup Winner. He’s twice won the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the league’s most valuable player.
Ovechkin has a similarly standout stat line, with 711 goals and 581 assists in 1,164 games. He beat out Crosby for the Calder Trophy, recognizing the rookie of the year, and has won the Hart Memorial Trophy three times.
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