Greg WyshynskiApr 12, 2026, 07:30 PM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
WASHINGTON — After their 3-0 loss on Sunday, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins lingered on the ice in preparation for a farewell handshake with Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who is considering retirement after this season.
It was a game filled with video tributes, standing ovations and several moments that honored Ovechkin’s decades-long rivalry with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins. That included a pregame photo of the trio, as well as a postgame meeting between the rivals away from fans and media. Ovechkin also took the opening faceoff of the game against Crosby after the Capitals’s Dylan Strome was chased from the circle.
“I’ve got to give credit to the referee there. I’m not sure which one it was that said that, but he thought it was a good idea. So I was obviously all in,” Strome said. “Thankfully they didn’t score.”
No matter the final score, Crosby and the Penguins were ready to honor Ovechkin in what could be their final meeting. But Ovechkin had other ideas.
“It’s kind of in [Ovechkin] fashion. He’s like, ‘I’m not retired, so leave me alone. I don’t want to shake anybody’s hand,'” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said. “And honestly, I’m like, ‘We might be seeing them in a week.'”
If that happens, then the Crosby vs. Ovechkin rivalry isn’t done yet: Washington and Pittsburgh would meet in the first round, with the Penguins as the second-place team in the Metro. It would be the fifth playoff series meeting between Ovechkin and Crosby.
Each series winner has gone to win the Stanley Cup that season: Pittsburgh in 2009, 2016 and 2017, and Washington in 2018.
Center Connor McMichael had two third-period goals in the win over Pittsburgh, including an empty netter to clinch the win that was assisted by Ovechkin.
“What he’s done for this city, you can’t really put into words. I mean, he’s literally changed the game of hockey. What he’s done may not ever be done again for a franchise,” said Tom Wilson, Ovechkin’s linemate. “I think there’s hundreds of thousands of kids that have played the game because of him and look up to him every day. He’s worn all that and done it with class, with the amount of pressure he’s been through. He just continues to exceed expectations and be a legend of the game.”
Ovechkin received a long ovation when he was announced as the game’s No. 1 star. He applauded the fans as he skated in celebration and thanked them for the support in a postgame interview from the bench as they again chanted “one more year!”
One memorable tribute: a video chronicling the Crosby vs. Ovechkin rivalry, which stretches back to when both entered the NHL as rookies in the 2005-26 season. After a series of game action and behind the scenes clips, an announcement said: “Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin thank you for 21 years of excitement.” That was greeted with a standing ovation from fans.
That was one of two video tributes for Ovechkin on Sunday. Before the teams skated out from their dressing rooms to start the game, there was a lengthy tribute that ended with the “GR8NESS” logo on the Jumbotron.
The fans were ready to begrudgingly say goodbye to the Capitals’ greatest player. Ovechkin reiterated after the game that he’s yet to make his decision on next season.
Greg WyshynskiApr 12, 2026, 07:30 PM ETCloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Instead, they left for the dressing room after Ovechkin waved them off.
‘I [haven’t] decided yet. Thanks to them for waiting out there,” Ovechkin said.
CloseGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s senior NHL writer.Follow on X
Ovechkin receives standing ovation in potential final game in Washington (0:39)Alex Ovechkin skates off to a standing ovation in what might be his last home game with the Capitals. (0:39)