Penguins say goodbye to Alex Ovechkin — maybe — in meaningless loss

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksPlayoff projectionsNHL Draft rankingRed Light NewsletterPenguins say goodbye to Alex Ovechkin — maybe — in meaningless lossDespite the lack of clarity around Ovechkin's future, the Penguins honored their longtime rival as best they could. Jamie Sabau / Getty Images Share full articleWASHINGTON — The Penguins said goodbye to their longest standing rival on Sunday … maybe. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin played in an otherwise meaningless game for the Penguins because it may have been Alex Ovechkin’s NHL farewell. Ovechkin recorded a late assist on an empty-net goal in Washington’s 3-0 win. The Capitals are still alive for a playoff spot while the Penguins continue to patiently wait until next weekend, when the postseason begins in Pittsburgh. Crosby and Malkin posed for picture with Ovechkin before and after the game in what felt like a goodbye from Washington to Ovechkin. However, following the game, Ovechkin asked the Penguins to leave the ice as they waited to shake hands with him. Malkin, who spent Saturday night having dinner at Ovechkin’s house, said he thinks Ovechkin may return. “I think he plays next year for sure,” Malkin said. “He’s still hungry.” One day after Pittsburgh gave Ovechkin a hearty standing ovation, Washington fans stood for Crosby and Ovechkin after a video of their rivalry was shown on the scoreboard. “I didn’t really know that was going on, to be honest with you,” Crosby said. “We were chatting about a face-off play, I think, and I saw it at the last minute. So, definitely appreciate it. Didn’t really realize at the time what was going on. It’s nice.” Crosby said he wasn’t given a choice on playing in Saturday’s home game, but that it was important to dress in this game. “Yeah, definitely,” he said. “I think, for a lot of reasons, you want to keep playing, just because of the potential. And then obviously, we don’t know. So, I think just for that fact, definitely wanted to be in it.” Opposing goalies typically don’t like playing against Ovechkin, but Stuart Skinner soaked this one in. “Oh my gosh, yeah,” he said. “So, so surreal. One of the greatest players to ever play the game. He should be celebrated just like that. The fans came early. They were amazing for him. Their team played great, we played great. It was just a really solid game. It was really cool for me seeing them take pictures in warm-ups. Having Sid and Ovi in front of me when I was stretching, it was a moment for me to remember. I’m sure for them it definitely will be. That was pretty cool.” Malkin made it clear his friendship with Ovechkin remains strong. They were once roommates in the 2004 Olympics. All these years later, they remain close. “If he needs anything from my family or me, I’m always open,” Malkin said. Crosby doesn’t love talking about himself but is aware of what the rivalry between he and Ovechkin has meant to so many people. “I think it’s still there,” Crosby said. “Maybe not to the extent that it was. But hopefully, people have been entertained. I think as competitors, as athletes, it’s been pretty cool to be able to be part of some big games and that rivalry. That’s something that obviously a lot of people have watched and cheered for, whether you cheered for or against, or whatever it was — it was something that has been special over that time period, and something I appreciate, and hopefully everybody appreciates.” • I feel like Sunday was a very strange day for the Penguins. They wanted to honor Ovechkin properly but, like everyone else, don’t really know if he’s going to retire. They had a game to play that wasn’t the least bit important to them in the standings, yet you don’t want to develop bad habits with the Stanley Cup playoffs a week away. Plus anytime they see the Capitals, they’re going to play hard. But still, staying healthy was of the utmost importance. A #Gr8 showing of respect. pic.twitter.com/DLhaUlkyVb — x – Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 12, 2026 So there was a lot going on during this afternoon in Washington and it frankly felt a little awkward. There were contradictions in every direction. It peaked when, after the game, Crosby and Malkin kept the Penguins on the ice to shake hands with Ovechkin. Incidentally, it was Ovechkin who had the Capitals shake hands with the retiring Marc-André Fleury last season after a game. The Penguins wanted to pay Ovechkin that same respect, but he waved them off the ice. It’s pretty clear that Ovechkin doesn’t know what he’s going to do, and that’s perfectly fair. Nobody did anything wrong. But the whole thing felt a little weird. • You know what else is weird? Playing three games at the end of the regular season that mean nothing. The Penguins are in a tough spot. First and foremost, they need to take care of those who are beaten up or fatigued. I don’t think Ben Kindel is particularly injured but I do think there are concerns about him hitting a bit of a rookie wall. Sitting him in both of these games over the weekend was sensible. Then again, if you’re the Penguins, you want to be healthy and you want to be fresh. But you don’t want to be too rested. It’s a very delicate balance to figure out. But I will tell you this: Muse was considerably more happy with how the Penguins played in this game than 24 hours earlier. And for good reason. They were beaten because Logan Thompson played exceptionally well. The Penguins had the better of the play for much of this game. • I don’t have any intel on Ovechkin’s future. He has said on numerous occasions during the past few days that he’s going to wait until summer to make a final decision. This, as a living legend, is his right. It certainly felt like a goodbye on Sunday. But is it goodbye? For one thing, there’s a chance Washington’s game in Columbus on Tuesday is going to be relevant. We’ll see. If it’s relevant, Ovechkin will play, of course. If it’s not, perhaps he will not. As for the hockey side of things, it’s a credit to Ovechkin’s greatness that he’s scored 32 goals this season. I mean that sincerely, because when you see him play in person, he can’t really skate anymore and he looks exhausted on the bench after almost every shift. He looks like a guy at the end. It’s not like he has anything left to prove. • That said, if this is it, I’ll sure miss watching him play. There has never been anyone quite like Ovechkin. He is truly one of a kind. • Skinner was outstanding in defeat and commented after the game that he’s feeling confident. The goaltender stopped 23 of 25 shots and I very much expect him to get the start when the Penguins open postseason play next weekend. Skinner said having a couple of sharp performances under his belt before the postseason is ideal. “Very important,” he said. “I do like where my game is at. It’s just continuing along, to keep that going on a consistent basis for me, which I know how to do. I feel really good about my game.” • He didn’t have a point on Sunday, but I like what I’m seeing from Crosby. He’s got his legs back. He’s starting to carry defensemen on his back when he’s protecting the puck behind the net, stuff he wasn’t doing after returning from the Olympic knee injury. The captain looks in good form. • I liked Elmer Söderblom’s game again. He’s just a force in the offensive zone because of his ability to protect the puck. He was one of the Penguins’ best players on Sunday. • I thought it was another positive game for the Kris Letang-Sam Girard tandem. They’re playing at a considerably higher level than they were a couple of weeks ago. • To my knowledge, the Penguins didn’t sustain any notable injuries in this game, and that’s the most important news of all. • The Penguins play in St. Louis on Tuesday but some of their big names won’t be playing, as you’d expect. In fact, from what I’ve heard, a number of their veterans returned to Pittsburgh immediately after the Penguins-Capitals game and will not be in Missouri for the final game of the regular season. It’s better for them to get some rest as opposed to making a road trip just to sit in the press box against the Blues. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Josh Yohe is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. Josh joined The Athletic in 2017 after covering the Penguins for a decade, first for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and then for DKPittsburghSports.com. Follow Josh on Twitter @JoshYohe_PGH