Crosby VS Ovechkin

Number 87 versus number 8, Sid vs Ovi, Sid the Kid vs Alexander The Great.  All of their NHL careers they have been compared to each other. They were drafted a year apart, but entered the NHL during the same season because of the lockout in 2004.

From the time they started their careers, they didn't disappoint.  Ovechkin finished 3rd in league scoring and Crosby finished 6th in their 1st season. Ovechkin took home the Rookie of the year award that year.  If we are talking personal trophies, this is where we are at.

As you can see, Ovechkin has a lead in personal trophies. Although, a lot of people will only count cups by the time they retire, and in that regard, Crosby leads Ovechkin 1-0.

To add to their "rivalry", in 2009, their respective teams met in the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  The series went to seven, and boy did they impress.  The Penguins and Sidney Crosby ended up beating Ovechkin's Washington Captials 4-3.  Ovi and Sid had a wonderful series. Especially in game two, when both of them scored hattricks.

Ovechkin got his 500th point of his career on Feburary 4th 2010.  He managed to do this in just 373 games. Crosby you ask? Well he just HAD to show up Ovechkin and did it in 4 games less (369)

Where I am going with this, is we potentially have something special coming up.  Barring any long term injuries, (more than 10 games) these two studs could score their 1000th career points on the same night. Here is a look at where they are in relations to their 1000th career point.

As of Aug 15 2015

As you can see, Crosby will most likely blow away Ovechkin in games it takes to get to 1000 points, but they could get that 1000th point on the same night. How nice would it be to see them do this on the same night or maybe even against each other.


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Magic Numbers - March23

So, with only a few weeks left in the season, here is the list of magic numbers to have the Leafs eliminated mathematically. Team is on the left, and the number of points they need to be untouchable (by the Leafs) is in the middle, and the record each team needs at minimum to stay past the Leafs in the standings is on the right. All this is assuming the Leafs win their last 8 games. I didn't bother putting in Boston, because they only need 1 point, with 10 games left, to be untouchable for the Leafs.

Team	Points Needed	Lowest Record Needed
Florida	1	0-7-1
Ottawa	2	1-4-1
Washington	6	2-4-2
Buffalo	4	2-5
Winnipeg	9	4-2-1
Carolina	12	6-0

*as of 11:38pm March 23rd 2012.

That being said, these teams still play each other down the stretch. These games are deadly considering how close they all are in the standings. Everyone of these games could go to OT and be 3 point games.
Washington: Florida, Buffalo and Winnipeg
Florida: Washington, Carolina and Winnipeg
Ottawa: Winnipeg and Carolina
Buffalo: Washington and Toronto (2)
Winnipeg: Washington, Florida, Ottawa and Carolina
Carolina: Florida, Ottawa, Toronto and Winnipeg
So, yes, the Leafs are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but, their maximum points are 5 points short of the usual playoff minimum for the Eastern Conference.

Leafs/Stars Preview Nov 25th 2011

Leafs are in Dallas tonight, and unless you have been living under a rock the last 48 hours, you would have heard already that Reimer is back practicing with the team.  They had an early practice yesterday and then jumped on a bus and went to the Cowboys game.  Which the Cowboys won 20-19 on a field goal with 3 seconds left. 

The Leafs find them selves almost instantly hot again, going 2-1 in their last 3 games outscoring their opponents 16-5 in those games.  Two convincing wins, over Tbay and Washington, has the Leafs bandwagon bulging out at the sides again.

Leafs are 12-8-2 with 26 points good for 2nd in the North-East Division
Stars are 13-8-0 with 26 points good for 2nd in the Pacific Division

Gustavsson will get the start tonight. In his last 5 appearances he has 2.48 GAA and a .920 save%.   Gustavsson also is 1-0-1 in his career vs Dallas, with a 2.44 GAA and a .914 save%

Also, in a press release today, it has been announced that The Ontario Teachers Pension Plan is not selling it's 79% stake in MLSE.  Probably so they don't miss out on the playoff revenue this year when the Leafs make it.

I think tonight, the Leafs win 4-2.  Kessel, Lupul, Steckel, Connolly.

Check out some Leafs stats here: Leafs Stats