PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Last night in Minnesota, Caps Alexander Ovechkin did something that Penguins fans should take notice of as an epic league rivalry is winding down.
As the horn sounded on a 4-2 loss in Minnesota and Caps players were leaving the ice, Ovechkin skated over demanding his teammates get back on the ice. A reminder of something he said to the group before the game started, afterwards they were going to honor Marc-Andre Fleury for a great career at center ice.
Ovechkin is in the midst of closing in on one of the greatest records in the sport, yet the 39-year-old wanted to make sure they honored someone who at times kept him, and their organization, from accomplishing greater things.
Fleury didn’t even play Thursday night, yet skated to the middle of the arena where he was greeted by Ovechkin.
It was 16 years ago when Ovechkin was on home ice, breaking away alone on Fleury three minutes into in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. He had eight goals in the series, but it was Fleury’s stop of the future Hall of Famer that sparked a 6-2 victory.
It was that series that featured dueling hat tricks in Game 1 that brought national attention to a regional rivalry. Non-hockey fans started to pay attention when the Caps played the Penguins.
It would be relived in the 2017 postseason as the Pens were marching to another Stanley Cup championship. Fleury had 67 saves in the first two games against Washington and 36 in taking a 3-1 series lead in game four. Caps though would fight back for nine goals off Fleury in games five and six. But in the decider, Fleury stopped all 29 shots (including four official shots and 18 attempted by Ovechkin) to end the Caps season. Ovechkin’s season, and hopes of the Caps breaking through, ended by Fleury (and a few other future Hall of Famers).
Ovechkin scored 28 goals in his career against Fleury, more than any other goalie. Yet when it came to team goals, it was Fleury on top. Now it’s just about recognizing great competition.
“He’s one of the best goalies that ever played,” Ovechkin said Thursday. “It was a very good battle between me and him. It’s almost 20 years we played against each other. It’s been an honor to play against him.”
It’s some of the best rivalries in the history of sports that are decades-plus of emotional, gut-wrenching battles that turn into mutual respect. It’s as local as the Steelers and Ravens. Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus took golf popularity to another level in their battles, later they became good friends. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, all had Hall of Fame careers and often bitter matchups, and would later find admiration for each other.
What Ovechkin did Thursday hopefully is recognized by all. A lesson about sportsmanship and respect.
“He (Ovechkin) talked a little bit before the game and thought it was a classy gesture,” said Caps center Dylan Strome. “You just got to respect greatness and Fleury has been great his whole career. I got a chance to play with him in Chicago and obviously knows he’s one of the best people all time. The little respect we showed him goes a lot way and it’s well deserved for him.”
“Paying the respects he deserves for the impressive career,” said Washington head coach Spencer Carbery. “They’ve had so many battles. He’s had so many battles with the Caps. Pretty classy to be able to send him off and say how impressive a career he had.”
The Pens-Caps matchups that changed the game are coming to an end. It was the man hated and booed for decades in Pittsburgh that showed how glory years of this rivalry should be remembered.