Crosby and Ovechkin set for 101st meeting in Capitals home opener
Washington hosts Pittsburgh on Wednesday in the first of four scheduled matchups during Alex Ovechkin’s final NHL season.
What's newWashington is monitoring Matt Roy’s injury and has moved Anthony Beauvillier onto the Ovechkin-Strome line.
Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are set to face each other for the 101st time, including playoffs, when the Washington Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday, Oct. 7. The game at Capital One Arena starts at 7:30 p.m. ET.
It will be Washington’s home opener and the first meeting between the longtime rivals since Ovechkin announced Monday that this will be his final NHL season. Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said Ovechkin would start at left wing.
The two have played against each other in 75 regular-season games and 25 playoff games. NHL.com reported that Crosby has 97 points in those regular-season meetings, compared with 71 for Ovechkin. In the playoffs, Ovechkin has 33 points and Crosby 30.
Pittsburgh enters at 2-1-0 and Washington at 1-1-0. After Wednesday, the teams are scheduled to meet in Pittsburgh on Jan. 18 and March 13, then in Washington on April 4.
Defenceman Matt Roy had missed two days of practice after leaving Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. Carbery said Tuesday that Roy remained day to day and that Dylan McIlrath would enter the lineup if Roy could not play.
Anthony Beauvillier has moved to right wing alongside Ovechkin and Dylan Strome. Ryan Leonard has been practising with Justin Sourdif and Boone Jenner. Carbery said the change was intended to give Leonard more defensive situations, rather than reflecting poor play.
Ovechkin, 41, and Crosby, 39, have each spent their entire NHL career with one club. Crosby said their rivalry has developed into a friendship and mutual respect over the years.
