The veteran captain is listed as day to day with a lower-body injury, and his absence immediately changes the tone of a game that carried significant historical intrigue. Fans had circled the date as a possible final head-to-head meeting between Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, two of the defining players of their generation.

Crosby’s absence is particularly notable given the significance of Penguins vs Capitals matchups over the past two decades. Games between Pittsburgh and Washington have frequently centered on the rivalry between Crosby and Ovechkin, who helped define the NHL’s modern era. With both players nearing the later stages of their careers, every potential meeting now carries added weight. However, the priority for the Pens is the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Have Penguins clinched a spot in NHL playoffs?

Yes. The Penguins have already clinched a playoff berth and secured second place in the Metropolitan Division. That positioning gives Pittsburgh some flexibility to rest key players, which likely factored into the decision to hold Sidney Crosby out.

Locking in second place also provides clarity for Pittsburgh’s playoff path. The Penguins can now focus on recovery, lineup experimentation, and maintaining rhythm without risking long-term setbacks. It’s important to remember they’ll have home-ice advantage in the first round.

As a result, while today’s game loses the potential Crosby versus Ovechkin storyline, the bigger picture favors caution. The Penguins are focused on entering the postseason at full strength, even if that means fans must wait for another opportunity to see one more chapter in one of the NHL’s most iconic rivalries.

Who is out for Penguins vs Capitals?

The Penguins released a broader injury update that sidelined several key contributors. Crosby is joined by Ben Kindel (upper-body), Evgeni Malkin (upper-body), Bryan Rust (lower-body), Parker Wotherspoon (upper-body), Erik Karlsson (lower-body), and Kris Letang (upper-body), all listed as day to day. Connor Dewar (lower-body) will also miss the game and is considered week to week.

Ovechkin and Crosby have marked a generation of hockey players, and will continue to do so for ages. It felt like their on-ice rivalry would go on forever, but the finish line is now closer than ever. The Penguins and Capitals will face-off in a home-and-home back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday in what could be the last time the two icons go head to head.

Sunday’s showdown will be even more special, as it might be the last time Ovechkin ever plays a game in Washington—the only city he’s ever called home in his 21-season career. As a result, everybody wants to have a seat at Capital One Arena, and prices are going through the roof.

According to Axios, the average get-in price on third-party resale platforms (such as TickPick) is set at $377. That is well above the $102 average price for home games in the Nation’s Capital City. As reported by this source, the price has surpassed the previous peak of $319, which was set on April 10, 2025—the first home game after Ovechkin seized the all-time goals record in the NHL. This time around, the occasion is even more special.

Is Ovechkin retiring?

Ovechkin recently admitted he will take his sweet time during the summer to make a decision on his future. The Capitals’ captain will turn 41 before the 2026–27 campaign. Since capturing the all-time goals record in the NHL, there isn’t really a clear goal for him to go after.

After all, he has accomplished everything any player could ever dream of. If he decides to call it a career, he can walk away from the rink with his chin held high. Fans in Washington wish he could play forever, though. Needless to say, whenever he retires, a statue in his honor will be erected in the City of Monuments.

Ovechkin’s stats against Crosby’s Penguins

So far in their careers, Ovechkin and Crosby have met 74 times. When the 2025–26 NHL season comes to an end, the total number of games will be at 76—unless either one of them misses one of their upcoming bouts. Ovechkin has scored 38 times against the Penguins when Crosby is in the lineup.

When adding the games Crosby didn’t play in, Ovechkin has 42 goals against Pittsburgh. Over the weekend, he’ll hope to add to his total. Perhaps it will be the last time the two will meet. After all, Ovechkin only gets one chance to make a last impression.

Ovechkin and the Capitals are currently four points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. However, the organization is seemingly waving the white flag on the season.

Watching Nic Dowd be traded to the Vegas Golden Knights sent a disheartening message to the players, but giving up Carlson to the Ducks was a massive blow that neither Ovechkin nor anyone else saw coming. Thanks to the trade, the Ducks added a Stanley Cup-winning defenseman while most of the league was asleep, including Carlson, who woke up to the news.

After hearing the news, Ovechkin dropped a blunt admission putting the front office on notice. “Alex Ovechkin said this is the saddest day of his career personally after John Carlson was traded,” as reported by NHL.com‘s Tom Gulitti. “Keep fighting. We’re still in this,” Ovechkin said to his teammates, via The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber.

Capitals on high alert

Ovechkin’s statement shouldn’t be overlooked by the organization. With much speculation around his future in the NHL, nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to “The Great 8”. Ovechkin has yet to sign a contract extension in Washington, as his five-year, $47.5 million deal (signed in 2021) is set to expire after the 2025-26 campaign.

If the Capitals miss the playoffs after separating Ovi from one of his longest-tenured teammates, the prospect of the leading scorer in NHL history leaving could become very real. Whether he would join another organization in the league or return to Russia remains to be seen, though he has admitted to plans for a return to Dynamo Moscow.

Brandon Duhaime added a goal and an assist, Dylan Strome also scored, and Matt Roy contributed three assists. Charlie Lindgren stopped 23 shots for the Capitals, while Yaroslav Askarov allowed four goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Alex Nedeljkovic.

“He did a great job of helping us build that lead,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said of Ovechkin, according to NHL.com. “He’s finding himself in and around the net. There’s another example of how good his hands are in tight.”

Ovechkin’s milestones

Ovechkin’s two goals brought his career total to 911, passing Ray Bourque for the sixth-most games with one franchise. He also extended his points streak to six games, tallying four goals and five assists during that stretch.

Rookie Ryan Leonard scored twice and added two assists, becoming the first Capitals rookie with a four-point game since Nicklas Backstrom in March 2008. Leonard’s second goal early in the third period capped a dominating performance from Washington.

Capital’s performance

Washington jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period with goals from Ovechkin, Sonny Milano, and Leonard, then added a short-handed strike from Duhaime. Ovechkin’s power-play goal in the second, along with Strome’s deflection, made it 6-0. Leonard scored again in the third, and Dmitry Orlov’s slap shot off Pavol Regenda’s skate finalized the 7-1 win.

Despite late scratches to John Carlson (upper-body) and Justin Sourdif (lower-body), Carbery expects both players to return soon. The Capitals now look to maintain momentum with Ovechkin and Leonard leading the charge.

Against the Montreal Canadiens, Ovechkin delivered a vintage performance, completing a hat trick with the kind of poise, precision, and instinct that have defined two decades of dominance. Age may have slowed his ice time, but it hasn’t touched his scoring touch.

With the feat, Ovechkin became the oldest player ever to record a hat trick against the Canadiens, a milestone that underscores both his longevity and sustained impact.

How Ovechkin sparked Washington’s momentum

The performance also extended his current hot streak. Entering Thursday, Ovechkin had scored a goal in three straight games; his hat trick against Montreal stretched that run to four, fueling a Capitals team that has now won three consecutive contests.

Efficiency defined his night. Ovechkin recorded only three shots on goal — and every single one found the back of the net. For a player whose prime featured high-volume shooting nights, this precision reflects a late-career evolution rooted in experience and positioning.

Ovechkin’s production

Through 21 games this season, Ovechkin has totaled 10 goals and 10 assists, maintaining a near point-per-game pace that keeps his legendary numbers climbing. With Thursday’s performance, he now stands at 907 career goals, further extending the NHL’s all-time record.

He has also accumulated 736 assists for 1,643 points across 1,512 games, reinforcing the consistency and durability that have defined his career. Few players in the league’s history have sustained elite scoring output for as long as Ovechkin has.

What lies ahead for the Capitals’ captain

If his recent stretch is any indication, Ovechkin remains a driving force behind Washington’s push up the standings. As long as he stays healthy and continues producing at this pace, the story of Ovechkin’s historic career is far from finished — and NHL history will continue to shift each time he steps on the ice.

After yet another dominant showing in the 2025-26 NHL season, Marchand extended his point streak when facing Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals with the Florida Panthers. Most importantly, the former third-round selection recorded his 1,000th point in his 17-year career.

Though still a ways from reaching Crosby and Ovechkin atop the NHL’s active leaderboards, Marchand once again proved his worth, further cementing his name in the Hall of Fame conversation for whenever he decides to hang up the skates. At the moment, the 37-year-old veteran is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and has no intention to slow down in South Florida.

How many points had Crosby registered by the age of 37?

By the age of 37, Crosby—turned 38 on August 7th—had amassed 1,687 points in his NHL career. The former first overall selection in the 2005 Draft had recorded 625 goals and 1,062 assists. Contrary to Marchand, Crosby has scored every point of his professional career with the same team: the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Marchand, however, has done most of his work while playing for the Boston Bruins. Though his time with the Florida Panthers has been nothing short of remarkable, Marchand registers 976 points (422 goals and 556 assists) with the Bruins, while the remaining 24 have been with the Panthers.

Ovechkin’s production by the age of 37

If the word ‘timeless’ had a face, it’d probably be Ovechkin’s. The Capitals captain has been as lethal as ever well into the twilight of his career. When most players start planning the next stage of their lives, Ovechkin only had time to chase down NHL records.

By the age of 37, Ovechkin hadn’t broken the all-time goals record—held by Wayne Gretzky at 894 goals—nor had he cut the ribbon on the 900-goal club, but his resume was still one few players in league history could compete with. At 37, Ovechkin had scored 1,485 points, thanks to his 822 goals and 663 assists.

Spencer Carbery’s coaching staff underwent changes in the midst of a pivotal NHL season. Coming into the campaign, the Capitals raised eyebrows by suspending assistant coach Mitch Love for an undisclosed reason.

In October, Washington officially fired Love, leaving his position vacant. Love had been with the team since the 2023-24 campaign. Now, the organization has hired a replacement, bringing back a former draft selection.

“The Washington Capitals have named Patrick Wellar an assistant coach, senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today,” as reported by the organization on their latest official statement.

Wellar’s new role with Ovechkin’s Capitals

Wellar was drafted by the Capitals with a third-round pick in 2002—two years prior to Ovechkin’s entrance to the league as a first overall selection. However, Wellar never made his debut in the NHL. Instead, he played in the WHL, ECHL, and AHL. The Saskatchewan-native retired in 2016.

Now, he is joining the Capitals after spending the past seven seasons in the coaching staff on the Hershey Bears (AHL). As he joins the Capitals, Wellar will oversee the defenseman in Washington, so he won’t be mentoring Ovechkin and the forwards directly.

How many assistant coaches are there on NHL teams?

For as many regulations as there around the league, the NHL doesn’t have a limit on how many assistant coaches a team can employ. It all comes down to each head coach and its preferences.

The Colorado Avalanche hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2022, while boasting the league’s smallest coaching staff (head coach, two assistant coaches, one goaltending coach, a video, and skills coach). Thus, less can truly be more. When it comes to Carbery and Washington, the Capitals have the following coaching staff:

• Spencer Carbery (head coach)
• Scott Allen (assistant coach)
• Kirk Muller (assistant coach)
• Kenny McCudden (assistant coach and skills coach)
• Scott Murray (goaltending coach)
• Brett Leonhardt (ssistant coach and video coach)
• Emily Engel-Natzke (video coach)
• Patrick Wellar (assistant coach)

Ovechkin had already surpassed Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record earlier this year, scoring his 895th goal in April to take sole possession of first place. But this latest milestone represented something deeper: longevity, excellence, and a bond with a fan base that has grown alongside him for more than two decades.

The historic goal came at Capital One Arena, where the crowd erupted as Ovechkin fired a spinning backhand past St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington. Washington went on to win 6–1, but the night was defined by one man and his milestone.

What did Leonsis say after Ovechkin’s 900th goal?

Following the game, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis took to X to share his admiration for the superstar he has watched evolve since his rookie year in 2005. “900 goals. I have seen every single one and can’t remember another like that, a blind spinning backhand. I was an unabashed fan last night and asked Alex to sign my hat. Thank you, @ovi8.”

Leonsis’ message reflected both pride and gratitude, celebrating not only Ovechkin’s achievement but also the enduring connection between the player, the franchise, and the city of Washington.

A legacy still being written

Capitals coach Spencer Carbery praised Ovechkin’s consistency and durability, noting that his sustained excellence over 20 years is something future generations will struggle to comprehend.

“For him to do it at the clip he’s done it at over the last 20 years, I still honestly don’t think we truly understand,” Carbery said. “I think it’s going to take years of reflecting back to really grasp what’s transpired here over the past couple of years. At the age he’s at, to still be doing what he’s doing.”

There is no shortage of icons in The City of Monuments, but Ovechkin keeps adding to his legacy in Washington D.C. Leading the Capitals on almost every category all-time, Ovi is still defying Father Time with strong outings in the 2025-26 NHL season.

With his goal against the Blues, Ovechkin extended his lead over the rest of the NHL on the all-time scoring leaderboard. Not only is he the first player to crack the 900-goal club, but no other active skater has even reached the 700 mark. Sidney Crosby ranks second among active players with 634 goals.

One item left

Ovechkin already boasts the most goals and points in Capitals history, but there is one pending task. Nicklas Backstrom holds the lead for most assists all-time (762), but the Russian machine is closing in. As it stands in the 2025-26 NHL season, the former first overall pick in 2004 registers 731 assists. He needs 32 more apples to snag the only crown left for the taking in The District.

In order to achieve that, Ovechkin would have to improve his production from a season back. Last campaign, he recorded 29 assists. However, the 2024-25 NHL season was mostly driven by his pursuit for Wayne Gretzky’s goal-record. Now, he might have another goal in mind—one that involves moving the puck around to his teammates in Washington.

Recording over 31 assists is very plausible for Ovechkin, though. Leaving out the current campaign, Ovechkin averages 36.3 assists per season in his NHL career. Therefore, him accomplishing yet another milestone in the 2025-26 season is still well within reach. Moreover, Ovi tallied 5 assists in the opening 10 games of the year, so he is on pace to record around 40 apples.

Coming off a career-year during the past NHL campaign, Pierre-Luc Dubois has seemingly lost a gear. After failing to record a point in his first six outings of the new season, Dubois went down with an injury and is now expected to miss considerable time.

“Pierre-Luc Dubois is going to be out for an extended period of time, per Coach Spencer Carbery,” insider Tarik El-Bashir reported on X (formerly Twitter). “Will undergo more testing. Still unclear if he’ll require surgery.”

While Dubois has been kept off the scoresheet in each of his six outings in the current NHL season, he is still a talented player who can help Ovechkin and the Capitals. A player’s impact isn’t just limited to the points total, and Dubois has made good plays for Washington that fly under the radar of stat-watchers.

Filling in

Though a winger, Dubois can still line up at the face-off dot and gain possession for the Capitals. So far in the 2025-26 NHL campaign, the former third overall pick registers a 42.3% success rate at the dot. However, it was actually during a draw that Dubois suffered the injury that is now leaving him off the ice.

“It’s a huge hole. One of the most important players on our roster,” Carbery told reporters. “I’m not going to sit here and sugarcoat it and say that you can replace him at this point in the year. But you can still can be a good hockey team and win a lot of hockey games with injuries. That’s part of the attrition that you need to be able handle in this league. So that’s what we’ll focus on—he’s out now and now we’ll need other players to step up“

Trade alert

The Capitals need to right the ship, and that often means making bold moves in the NHL. For the Caps, however, their latest transaction may be anything but bold. Washington acquired St. Louis Blues defenseman Corey Schueneman in exchange for Calle Rosen. Both players have spent most of their time in the American Hockey League (AHL), and that is unlikely to change as they switch organizations.

From partners to opponents

Shortly after a trade, the Capitals and Blues will face off on Nov. 5 in the 2025-26 NHL season. It’s a must-win for both sides. Washington will enter the game carrying the weight of four straight losses.

As for the Blues, St. Louis is set to face the Edmonton Oilers beforehand—if they lose, they would arrive at Capital One Arena on an eight-game losing streak. Even with a win over Edmonton, the Blues would still come into the City of Monuments with a 2-6-2 record in their last ten outings.

Strome sustained the injury in the first period of Saturday’s loss after getting tangled up with Artem Zub and colliding with Jakob Chychrun, who fell on his leg and sent him sliding hard into the end boards. The 28-year-old required assistance to leave the ice but briefly returned for a shift before heading back to the dressing room for the remainder of the game.

Head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Strome will not travel to Dallas and is listed as day-to-day. “You’re always concerned when someone goes into the boards,” Carbery told NHL.com.

He added: “It wasn’t a collision, but going in awkwardly always raises concern. The fact that he came back to try a shift made me feel more positive about where he was at.”

Capitals’ adjustments following Strome’s injury

With Strome sidelined, the Capitals recalled Ethen Frank from the AHL’s Hershey Bears. To make room for him, defenseman Rasmus Sandin was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to October 21. Sandin, recovering from an upper-body injury, skated Monday in a non-contact jersey and remains day-to-day.

In the meantime, Connor McMichael has been promoted to the top line, centering Alex Ovechkin and Ryan Leonard, who also earned a spot in the top six. The Capitals will rely on this new combination as they seek to stabilize their offense ahead of Tuesday’s clash in Dallas.