CRANBERRY, Pa. -- Sidney Crosby enjoys stability.

Alex Ovechkin provides it.

They were tied together when each No. 1 NHL Draft pick debuted in 2005. Two decades later, nothing has changed.

Crosby, the 38-year-old captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, against Ovechkin, his 40-year-old counterpart with the Washington Capitals, is one of most decorated individual rivalries in NHL history.

"I think it's great," Crosby said Wednesday. "It was great when we first started playing against each other as far as just the rivalry and bringing the best out of everyone. I think it was great for hockey and still is."

The next chapter is Thursday, when the Penguins welcome the Capitals to PPG Paints Arena (7:30 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+, SN) for Crosby and Ovechkin's 99th meeting in the regular season o

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