PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was the 100th time Sidney Crosby was going to battle Alexander Ovechkin, while Crosby was scratched, it didn’t mean there wasn’t emotion in the building Saturday.
Caps needed the win to keep their season alive and Ovechkin would eventually score, an empty-netter for the 54th goal in his career against the Penguins. Minutes before that during a media timeout, the Pens paid tribute to the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer with a video featuring an interview with he and Crosby.
Then the Pens fans stood and applauded in recognition.
“It was nice,” Ovechkin said, as he has yet to say if this would be his last season. “It was a show of respect. All the time that we spend with rivalries-playoffs, regular season, it shows respect.”
“I was surprised to see the video, he hasn’t announced anything yet,” said former teammate and now Pens forward Anthony Mantha. “It’s awesome, the hockey community as a whole is good.”
A three-year teammate of Ovechkin’s, Mantha said he was fun to be around, always laughing and joking.
“He’s greatness,” Mantha said.
“I’ve had the pleasure to play against him for a long time,” said Pens Rickard Rakell. “You don’t like when he is scoring on you, but he’s a fun player to watch.”
“We try to leave it all out there as hockey players, whether it’s the home crowd or the away crowd, it’s what makes hockey great is the blood, sweat and tears and O has done a ton of that in this building,” said Washington forward Tom Wilson. “I think it’s awesome to see the Pittsburgh crowd give him that respect.”
The ovation from the Pens fans went on long enough he had to make a couple of acknowledgments to the crowd.
Tom Wilson and others credit Pens fans with ovation
Tom Wilson and others credit Pens fans with ovation
