NHL Must Watch: The Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry wasn’t over after all
With 32 teams, games every night and ceaseless narratives emerging, the NHL season can make one’s head spin, and it’s easy to fall behind on the weekly storylines. Every Monday from October to April, I’ll map out the major events, games, plotlines and milestones on tap for the next seven days.
So what’s happening the week of Oct. 5-11?
Oct. 7: Crosby, Ovechkin face off in 22nd season
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Washington Capitals, 7:30 p.m. ET
Why is this matchup, the first of four meetings between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, significant? Because Crosby legitimately didn’t know if he’d ever get to play against ‘Ovi’ again when they last faced each other in 2025-26.
“When we played them that last game, I had no idea at that point,” Crosby said at the NHL Player Media Tour in September. “So in my head, I was kind of preparing, like, ‘Oh, this could be last time. We took the faceoff together. So yeah, it was one of those [games] that, if it was the case, you’re going to try to enjoy it. And if it’s not, it would be great to see him back playing again. So I wasn’t sure.”
Ovechkin is in fact back for another year at 41 years old, and his Caps will meet Crosby’s Pens four times this season, starting Wednesday at Capital One Arena.
Oct. 10: McDavid, Celebrini meet in matinee
Edmonton Oilers @ San Jose Sharks, 4:00 p.m. ET
Connor McDavid’s Oilers are badly banged up and merely trying to survive October minus a significant number of their top players, including forwards Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Matt Savoie and Jason Dickinson and goaltender Frederik Andersen. Macklin Celebrini’s Sharks know every divisional game matters, and Saturday offers a key opportunity to snatch two points from a weakened opponent. Will we see fireworks from two of the game’s top superstars?
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