Penguins Today: Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin is a welcome distraction

On By Littum

It’s a new day. Yes, it is.

Yes, I have stole that phrase. But the other option was to go straight into whatever happened last night in Carolina. And that’s no way to start a day.

It is best to turn the page quickly. That’s what games on consecutive nights are for, right?

Tonight in Washington is the first meeting between what has arguably been the rivalry in the NHL for two decades: Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin.

They have been the faces of the league. They have eternal legacy with their franchise. They’ve had epic playoff runs.

And with 37 and 39 respectively, Crosby and Malkin are still playing at a high level.

Crosby has five goals and eight points in the past five games. He needs two goals for 600, which would make him just the ninth player to score at least that many goals and 1,600 points.

Ovechkin has scored eight goals in 12 games. It’s a ridiculous pace, but if he keeps it up, he’ll break Wayne Gretzky’s scoring record in (checking notes)…mid-March.

I wrote about these two and their history together about a year ago. Here is that story.

If you sense an attempt here to avoid talking about the current plight of the penguins – well, you might be on to something.

A Rossi rant

One thing worth mentioning from the Penguins’ loss to the Hurricanes last night: Erik Karlsson.

It was a Bucket Of Yuck from him and the buckets are piling up.

Karlsson appeared to prompt coach Mike Sullivan to go where he rarely does and publicly suggest he’s not happy with a player. It’s not Sulivan’s MO, but it’s hard not to read into his post-match comments:

“I think there were a couple of guys that didn’t live up to expectations,” Sullivan said. “It’s tough. We need everyone to bring it every night to have a chance to win.”

I can’t help but think about how Kyle Dubas’ big moves in his first few months with the Penguins have backfired.

Reilly Smith was such a disaster that he was traded after one season. Tristan Jarry is ending an AHL loan because he was getting lit up like a Christmas tree. (By the way, it’s too early to put up your Christmas tree.)

Karlsson looks like a shell of himself.

Is it possible that the much-maligned Ryan Graves turns out to be the best of Dubas’ big additions from his first offseason?

That’s it.

Graves has played some of his best hockey for the Penguins. Still, it’s not a good sign if a mid-level third-pair defenseman might be the only successful move from your hockey manager’s first offseason.

Voting has been a thing this week. Let’s wrap it up with a poll:

How to see, listen, follow

The Penguins (5-8-2, 12 points) face the Washington Capitals (9-3-0, 18 points) at Capital One Arena. The opener is set for just after 7:30 PM ET.

  • Regional TV/streaming: SportsNet Pittsburgh/SNP 360
  • Local/regional radio: WXDX-FM, Penguins Radio Network
  • US streaming: ESPN+

Odds via BetMGM (starting at 10am ET)

  • Spread: Penguins +1.5 (-185); Capital letters -1.5 (+150)
  • Total: Over 6.5 (-105); Under 6.5 (-115)
  • Money: Penguins +140; Uppercase -165

So am I @Real_RobRossi and Josh is @JoshYohe_PGH … if you can still find us on X’s feed.

Touch pass

• Jarry’s AHL loan expires this weekend. He has performed well for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, allowing just seven goals and posting a .946 SV% in four games.

The Penguins’ options upon his return are:

  1. Carry three goaltenders on the 23-man roster
  2. Return to the tandem of Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic and send Joel Blomqvist to the AHL
  3. Stick with Blomqvist and Nedeljkovic, put Jarry on waivers – and if he clears, plant him in the AHL for a $1.5 million salary cap savings

No. 3 is the least likely option.

I’m not a betting man, but no. 2 seems most likely.

• Kevin Hayes did not play against the Hurricanes and is day-to-day (upper body). Cody Glass did not return after leaving the Carolina game with an injury (upper body).

The Penguins’ depth takes a hit.

Bryan Rust’s return to the lineup can’t come soon enough.

When that happens, Sullivan should at least consider returning Evgeni Malkin to the second line where he could play his natural position. Although making Malkin one of Crosby’s top wing players has ignited Crosby after a cool start, the Penguins are much easier to defend when the two play on the same line.

Don’t miss out

Usually I’ll pass along more links to NHL stories for readers to dig.

Not today.

Colleague Eric Duhatschek’s legendary career is approaching sunset. This is his last notebook.

And you can read many fantastic tributes to Eric here. All I can add is that Eric welcomed me when I broke into the Penguins beat while wearing a younger man’s clothes, and he’s been a guiding light for reporters – including myself – on so many areas.

But one stands out.

Eric earned his place in the legend’s press box by remaining curious, avoiding cynicism and treating people with kindness and respect.

His talent was immense. But it is his hopeful aura that hockey will miss the most.

Cheers, sir.

(Photo of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)