PITTSBURGH — In a thrilling regular-season finale, hockey legends Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin delivered a spectacular performance. Their exceptional skills were on full display as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2.
Alex Ovechkin continued his remarkable season, scoring his 897th career goal in the second period, further solidifying his legacy. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby marked his 20th NHL season with a goal and an assist, surpassing the 90-point mark for an impressive ninth time in his career.
The Washington Capitals are now set to begin their pursuit of their second Stanley Cup title, facing the Montreal Canadiens on Monday in the playoffs.
This 73rd regular-season matchup between Ovechkin and Crosby, two of hockey`s brightest stars, was uniquely low-stakes. The Capitals had already secured the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference weeks prior, while the Penguins, undergoing a rebuilding phase, were out of playoff contention.
Bryan Rust contributed significantly to the Penguins` win, scoring twice and concluding the season with a personal best of 31 goals. His second goal was particularly noteworthy, assisted by a remarkable backhand pass from Crosby, extending Pittsburgh`s lead to 3-1. Penguins goalie Alex Nedeljkovic made 18 saves.
Ovechkin`s 44th goal of the season put him significantly ahead of Wayne Gretzky`s record, which Ovechkin had already surpassed earlier in the month. For the Capitals, Clay Stevenson made his NHL debut as goalie, recording 33 saves.
Tristan Blackwood