Ovechkin’s ability to pass Gretzky to set NHL -Tore Record, “quite incredible,” says Crosby

After the goal, Ovechkin turned and turned a belly flop on the ice and slipped over the blue line before it was washed up by his teammates.

Crosby said he wrote Ovechkin an SMS on Friday when he scored two goals in a 5: 3 victory against the Blackhawks to bind Gretzky. He wrote Ovechkin again on Sunday.

“This is a very special moment and at the same time think about how long the hockey history, how long the game will take and at a time when he has such a record is something special,” he said. “I think we are all lucky not to be in the game, but to be there while he’s doing it.”

The mutual admiration between Ovechkin and Crosby has built up over the years. In the 72 games of the regular season they played against each other, Crosby has 93 points (32 goals, 61 templates). Ovechkin has 67 (37 goals, 30 templates).

The capital and penguins have also played four off -season series since Ovechkin and Crosby joined the league. Pittsburgh defeated Washington in the second round 2009, 2016 and 2017 on the way to win the Stanley Cup every time. Washington eliminated the penguins in the second round in 2018 before winning its first championship.

“It is quite rare to be against the same division, to be in the same division and to enter into this kind of expectations, the playoff series and everything that goes with it,” said Crosby. “So, it’s unique and I definitely appreciate it and that’s something that is great about the hockey game, and there is also mutual respect there.”

Crosby and Ovechkin have been two of the most productive goal scorers in the league since their debut. Crosby, the No. 1 selected by the penguins in the NHL design of 2005, has 1,682 points (622 goals, 1060 assists) in 1,348 games with Pittsburgh. He won the Art Ross Trophy as a top scorer of the regular season of the league and the Hart Trophy voted in 2006-07 and 2013-14 as NHL MVP. He also won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, who was awarded every season 2009-10 and 2016-17 to the top scorer of the league.

Crosby has 201 points (71 goals, 130 assists) in 180 playoff games and won these three NHL championships and the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the playoffs in 2016 and 2017.

Ovechkin, number 1 of the capitals in the NHL design of 2004, has 1,619 points (895 goals, 724 assists) in 1,487 games for Washington. As a nine-time winner of the “Rocket” Richard Trophy, he also won the Calder Trophy, which won the top rookie of the 2005/06 league, Art Ross Trophy in the years 2007-08 and the Hart Trophy 2006-07 and 2013-14.