Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin put on a show as Penguins win season finale

PITTSBURGH — Thursday was the 73rd matchup between longstanding rivals Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. And health permitting, it won’t be the last time they face each other.

Ovechkin confirmed that in hilarious fashion Thursday morning in Pittsburgh. The Washington Capitals star was asked about playing against Crosby “one more time.”

He gave a quizzical look, replied “I’m not retiring, so ...” then playfully walked off.

Regardless, there will be extra eyeballs for the NHL any time the Penguins and the Capitals meet up. And Crosby and Ovechkin again produced compelling theater at PPG Paints Arena as the Penguins closed out a disappointing season on Thursday.

Each of them got a goal. But Crosby had the last laugh as Pittsburgh won, 5-2.

Both men — who are pictures of longevity, consistency and excellence — recently broke a Wayne Gretzky record that most people thought could never be touched.

Sid just set a new record with his 20th year in a row averaging a point per game.

Obviously, Ovi scored the bigger one by becoming the NHL’s all-time goal leader.

The Penguins honored Ovechkin with a tribute video Thursday, creating a surreal scene at PPG Paints Arena. The lively crowd, which had a lot of red-clad Capitals supporters, gave him a standing ovation. He responded by taking a quick skate to center then gave a wave as Crosby and the Penguins tapped their sticks in respect.

One day earlier, Crosby discussed how they have learned to like each other — off the ice, at least — after being around each other at league events for two decades.

“You develop a friendship through those experiences and things like that,” Crosby said. “So I think it’s been great. We have been at it a long time. So it’s nice. It’s nice to have a relationship like that. Obviously, it is still really competitive on the ice.”

That proved to be the case once the game resumed after the classy tribute at PPG Paints Arena, then Crosby took over the game with an outstanding second period.

Crosby helped the Penguins take a 2-1 lead early in the period with a jaw-dropping no-look pass to Bryan Rust, who beat Clay Stevenson for his second goal of the game.

Later in the second, after Philip Tomasino and Connor Dewar created a turnover, Crosby blasted a one-timer past Stevenson, working Penguins fans into a frenzy.

Ovechkin answered back late in the second period, while Crosby was sitting in the penalty box. Ovi sniped Alex Nedeljkovic from his sweet spot atop the left circle.

But the Penguins pulled away from the first-place Capitals in the third period when Danton Heinen and Tomasino scored goals 15 seconds apart, pushing it to 5-2.

With his two-point night, Crosby became just the sixth player in league history and the first in nearly 20 years to record 90-plus points in their age 37 season or older.

Rust hits 30 goals

For the first time in his 11-year career, Rust has scored 30 goals in a season. He hit that in the first period when he scored a rebound on Stevenson, who was making his NHL debut. Rust flashed a wide grin when he got a milestone he long coveted.

With Rust reaching 30 goals on the season, the Penguins had three 30-goal scorers for the first time since 2000-01. Crosby and Rickard Rakell also hit that number.

Speaking of Rakell, he increased his season point total to 70 — a new career high.

A strong Finnish

Rookie Ville Koivunen appeared to get his first NHL goal in the third period but it was correctly overturned because he knocked the puck into the net with his glove. The 21-year-old’s celebration was muted, so he probably expected that outcome.

Still, it was another good night for Koivunen, who had his first multi-point game.

Koivunen ended his first stint in the NHL by tallying a point in five straight games. This weekend, he will be sent back to American Hockey League for a playoff run.

Around the boards

— With Kevin Hayes out due to injury, the Penguins promoted former first-rounder Sam Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, a nice reward for the 23-year-old. Poulin has been on a heater at the AHL level. Thursday was his seventh NHL game of the season and 13th in his career. Poulin skated on the fourth line against the Capitals.

— Thursday was Nedeljkovic’s first start since April 6. He took a back seat to Tristan Jarry down the stretch. Jarry started 14 of the last 17 games of Pittsburgh’s season.

— Vladislav Kolyachonok got back in the lineup against the Capitals. It was his first game since March 27. He stepped in for Kris Letang. Letang missed the finale after having a procedure done on his heart on Tuesday. The team says he is doing OK.

— The Penguins allowed another early goal, but at least it was not on their first shot against. They gave up 15 first-shot goals, the most by an NHL team since 2000-01.

— Matt Grzelcyk had two assists and was a plus-3 in what could be his final game with the Penguins. Partner Erik Karlsson also had a plus-3 rating in the victory.

Coming up next

Penguins players will have exit interviews Friday morning, then school will be out for the summer. Kyle Dubas is expected to meet with the media early next week.