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Ovechkin, Crosby face off when Capitals meet Penguins

Oct 16, 2008 - 10:05 AM Washington (2-1-0) at Pittsburgh (2-1-1) 7:30 p.m. EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Alex Ovechkin earned numerous individual accolades last season, while Sidney Crosby is coming off his first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. But the debate continues as to which of these superstars is the best player in the NHL.

Ovechkin and Crosby each look to sway the argument in their favor on Thursday, when the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins face off at Mellon Arena.

An electrifying goal-scorer, Ovechkin led the league with 65 tallies and 112 points last season, becoming the first player in history to collect the Lester B. Pearson Award and the Hart, Art Ross and Maurice Richard Trophies in a single campaign.

However, his Capitals were ousted by the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games during the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Crosby, who missed 21 straight games due to a high right ankle sprain last season, returned in time to lead his team all the way to the Cup Finals, where it was downed in six games by the Detroit Red Wings.

Crosby, 21, has two assists in four games this campaign but still is searching for his first goal. Conversely, Ovechkin has a pair of tallies in three games but has yet to register an assist.

Tyler Kennedy (two) is the only member of the Penguins with more than one goal. Meanwhile, Alexander Semin and defenseman Mike Green lead the Capitals with three tallies apiece.