(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)How do you know when you’re witnessing history? Easy, pay attention.
Ladies and gentlemen, introduce yourself to the next great rivalry in sports: Crosby vs. Ovechkin.
What we have here with Crosby-Ovechkin is the opportunity to witness the evolution of a rivalry that is already drawing comparisons to Magic-Bird.
Sydney Crosby (21-years old, Canadian, Pittsburgh Penguins)-he is the youngest player in NHL history to record 100 and 200 career points. During the 2006-2007 NHL season he became the youngest person to ever win a scoring title in a major pro-team sport. In addition to winning the scoring title (the Art Ross Trophy) that season he was also named League MVP (the Hart Trophy).
On May 31, 2007 he was named captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, becoming the youngest captain in NHL history. In 2007 he became the youngest player ever elected an NHL All-Star game starter.
Alex Ovechkin (23-years old, Russian, Washington Capitals)- Over the course of the 2007-2008 NHL season Ovechkin won the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, and the Maurice Richard Trophy. So in one season, Ovechkin was named league MVP, scored the most goals, and tallied the most points (65 goals, 47 assists). He set a single season record for goals scored by a left wing and his 65 goals were the most in a season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 (only 10 players in hockey history have scored more).
Ovechkin has also earned First Team honors in each of his first three full NHL seasons, which hasn’t happened since Detroit Red Wings goaltender Terry Sawchuk did so from 1950-51 through 1952-53.
Clearly, their resumes scream epic head-to-head matchups.
Naysayers might argue that nobody cares about hockey, or that since an American isn’t involved, Americans won’t care. Don’t let them persuade you from missing something great.
Obviously people are catching on, “according to NBC Sports spokesman Brian Walker, NBC's telecast of Pittsburgh/Washington's Game 1 Eastern Conference Semi-final drew a 1.4/4 overnight rating on NBC. These numbers are up 40% from last year's comparable telecast (a 1.0/4 for Game 2 of Colorado/Detroit).”
Throw in the fact that this season’s Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings which took place at Wrigley Field on New Years Day, drew the best viewer ratings for a nationally-televised hockey game in 10 years, and it’s clear that hockey’s popularity is on the rise.
This rivalry has the added bonus of coming naturally as well, stemming from the Canada vs. Russia hockey rivalry and the storied Penguins-Capitals rivalry, riddled with bitter or glorious playoff memories, depending on what sweater you wear.
Not only have Crosby and Ovechkin exchanged verbal and physical blows but what happened last night was one of those epic head-to-head matchups I mentioned earlier, and just the sort of ingredient every great rivalry needs.
In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, Crosby and Ovechkin both netted hat tricks in a 4-3 Capitals victory. Yes, you read that right, both of them. It was Crosby’s first post-season hat trick and Ovechkin’s first career hat trick.
This spring, make sure to pay attention to the blossoming of Crosby vs. Ovechkin.
Man, that was such a great game. This series has had such a high pace to it. When Crosby netted two I was like, yea get a hat trick! then Ovechkin is just like...what's up now?! Awesome. Just awesome. I am so glad the NHL is back. The longer the Blackhawks stay in the playoffs, the better for the entire league.
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