Alex Ovechkin receives standing ovation from Penguins fans, named 1st Star in what could be final game in Pittsburgh
Alex Ovechkin played what may have been his final game in Pittsburgh and was saluted by fans who used to loudly boo him, going from villain to superhero.
With 5:43 remaining in the second period, the Penguins posted a slomo’d clip of Ovechkin hugging Penguins captain Sidney Crosby during a handshake line from earlier in their careers.
“Ovi, thank you for 21 years of the greatest rivalry in hockey,” the Penguins’ PA announcer said over the loudspeakers. “It has been a pleasure.”
Tribute video
Ovechkin stood up at the end of the bench and began waving to the crowd as they roared even louder.
“All the respect for #8 🤝,” the Penguins added on social media.
“Yeah, it was nice,” Ovechkin said afterward. “It was a show of respect that all of the time we spend on rivalries, playoffs or regular season, it shows respect.”
“That was cool,” added Spencer Carbery. “And, like, that wasn’t your, you know, sometimes they do those now when guys come back to places and that. That was an ovation that you could tell the respect, and it went on for a bit, and you’re sitting there, and you’re clapping, and you’re like, yes, this is, you could feel in that moment what Ovi has meant to the Pittsburgh Penguins fans and this city as well and the appreciation for the rivalry, Even though they hate the Washington Capitals, they appreciate what’s gone on over the last 21 seasons of going back and forth and being able to watch this live and tell your kids about it and grow up in this era where it’s Ovi versus Crosby, Penguins versus Capitals. You could tell there’s a genuine appreciation from this city.”
Ovechkin later scored his 929th career goal — an empty-netter with 3:38 remaining — to seal the Capitals’ 6-3 victory.
After the final buzzer sounded, Ovechkin was also named 1st Star of the Game — his 1,571st appearance in an NHL regular-season contest.
Photo: @penguins/X
Ovechkin has just two games remaining in the 2025-26 campaign, but still remains unsure about what his future holds.
“Well, I don’t know if it’s going to be my last year or not,” Ovechkin said. “So I will talk if I’m going to say I’m retired. But I didn’t say that, so we’ll see.”
