Right from the opening moments, both the Pittsburgh Penguins and their visitors, the Washington Capitals, set out to give a potentially historic afternoon the weight it deserved.
With what might be his last home appearance ever in a Capitals uniform looming, Alex Ovechkin gathered amid the pregame skate alongside his longtime Pittsburgh adversaries for a photograph: Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Sidney Crosby.
After Letang and Malkin peeled off, Ovi and Crosby stayed behind to pose together for a separate frame. On Sunday afternoon, the two storied forwards are squaring off for the 100th time when regular-season and playoff meetings are tallied together.
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Ovechkin's clashes with Crosby reach all the way back to their shared 2005-06 rookie campaigns. His history with Malkin stretches even further, dating to the years they spent as juniors wearing Russia's colors and continuing into the NHL from 2006-07 onward, while his rivalry with Letang dates to that defenseman's own 2006-07 debut.
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Both clubs' bench bosses then sent all four men out to take the opening draw.
📸: kurly, one of the #crashers
Whether he comes back for another year this autumn is still up in the air; Ovechkin noted a few days ago that the call would wait until summer. This marks his 21st year in the league.
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