Since Alex Ovechkin debuted in the 2005-06 NHL season, he has played in 1,504 regular-season games, scored an all-time record 900 goals and won one Stanley Cup.
Since Sidney Crosby debuted in the 2005-06 NHL season, he has played in 1,366 regular-season games, scored 1,704 points (ninth all-time), and won three Stanley Cups.
Both are first-ballot, elite-tier Hall of Famers when they stop playing. Thursday’s game between Ovi’s Washington Capitals and Sid’s Pittsburgh Penguins will be their 74th regular-season matchup and 99th overall — and could be one of the hockey world’s last chances to catch them against one another.
To help get you ready for the showdown (7:30 p.m. ET, exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu), here’s a guide on the key players to watch for each team, including in-depth statistical insights from ESPN Research, along with broadcast information.
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+/Hulu
PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)
Record: 7-5-1
Power ranking: 10
Leading scorer: Tom Wilson (8 G, 7 A)
Notes from ESPN Research
Record: 8-4-2
Power ranking: 7
Leading scorer: Evgeni Malkin (3 G, 16 A)
Notes from ESPN Research