Crosby, Ovechkin savor 'great weekend' as 2023 All-Star teammates

SUNRISE, Fla. -- Sidney Crosby's and Alex Ovechkin's 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game experience ended sooner than they hoped, but not before the longtime rivals shared a weekend of memories with their Metropolitan Division teammates and the fans at FLA Live Arena.

Despite Crosby (two goals, assist) and Ovechkin (goal, two assists) each getting three points playing on the same line, the Metropolitan Division lost 10-6 to the Atlantic Division in the second semifinal Saturday.
"It was 6-4, we had the lead," Crosby said. "After that, it kind of slipped away a little bit. But it was] fun. It goes quick. All the buildup and then it's a quick exit. But a fun couple days."
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Crosby, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins with the No. 1 pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, and Ovechkin, who was selected by the Washington Capitals with the No. 1 pick in the 2004 NHL Draft, have battled for 18 seasons with those teams since entering the League together in 2005-06. The heated rivalry between Pittsburgh and Washington might have made it difficult for them to be friendlier earlier in their NHL careers, but as they've gotten older their mutual admiration has grown into a friendship that was on full display here.
On Friday, Crosby and Ovechkin teamed up during the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills to set up Ovechkin's 4-year-old son, Sergei, for a goal and win the Great Clips NHL Breakaway Challenge. On Saturday, the forwards put on an offensive display on a line with New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox.
"Great weekend," Ovechkin said. "Lots of fun moments. Lots of good memories. Lots of video. I enjoyed it. The boys enjoy it. The kids enjoy it. The family enjoy it. So, yeah, it was special moment."

Crosby, who made his fifth All-Star Game appearance, and Ovechkin, who made his eighth, also played together in the 3-on-3 tournament in 2017 and 2018, so this was not a new experience for them. But Ovechkin is 37 and Crosby is 35, and it's unknown how many more All-Star Games they'll play in together.
Like many others, Metropolitan coach Rod Brind'Amour wanted to see them play together Saturday, and they delivered like they have throughout their careers.
Crosby leads active players and is 15th in NHL history with 1,469 points (541 goals, 928 assists). Ovechkin is second in NHL history with 812 goals (behind Wayne Gretzky's 894) and second among active players, and 17th in NHL history, with 1,464 points.
"'Ovi' and Sid [are] guys that have taken the torch from the Gretzkys and it went to them, and now Sid and Ovi have done so much for the game of hockey," said Brind'Amour, the Carolina Hurricanes coach. "And you've got the younger guys seeing them do it, and that's how it has to happen."

Ovechkin twice set up Crosby for goals on 2-on-0s following Crosby steals. The first gave the Metropolitan a 3-2 lead 6:19 into the first period. The second put the Metropolitan in front 5-4 at 1:58 of the second.
Crosby was trying to set up Ovechkin each time, but Ovechkin passed the puck back to him instead.
"I didn't expect to get it back a couple of those times," Crosby said. "I was thinking I just did my job giving it to him. I thought he was just going to finish it, but he was kind enough to send me a couple back. So, we had some nice goals there."

Crosby got the secondary assist on Ovechkin's goal that made it 6-4 at 2:21 of the second. The Atlantic scored six straight goals after that to advance, but that didn't completely spoil the day for Ovechkin and Crosby.
"I think we have fun to play together, not against each other," Ovechkin said. "Right now, we were on the same team, and it was pretty special, a pretty good moment."
Not just for Ovechkin and Crosby.
"Just as a fan, it's pretty cool," said New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes, a Metropolitan teammate. "So, we got a great seat for that, being on the bench. It's pretty funny. I see them do that, they're such rivals but they seem like good buds. It's pretty cool."