DALLAS — Sidney Crosby once again found himself in a captivating hat trick showdown against a Russian adversary, reminiscent of his unforgettable encounter with Alex Ovechkin in the playoffs 16 years ago. In Saturday’s clash, Crosby secured his hat trick with an empty-net goal, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-3 triumph over the Dallas Stars, all while Evgenii Dadonov also notched three goals.
Back in the 2009 playoff series between the Penguins and the Washington Capitals, Crosby and Ovechkin each recorded a hat trick in Game 2. The two athletes have been long-time rivals and significant figures in the sport since they both debuted in the NHL in 2005.
Saturday’s performance came just under 24 hours after Ovechkin matched Wayne Gretzky’s record for career goals. Crosby downplayed any link between his scoring feat and Ovechkin’s achievement, though he did acknowledge the significance of the latter’s milestone, describing it as “really, really special.”
“Like everyone else, we understood it was just a matter of time before it happened, and it was certainly a pretty cool moment,” Crosby remarked. “For us, it was great to come out here and secure a victory.”
Crosby’s achievement marked his 13th season hitting 30 goals in his 20-year NHL career, while Dadonov is on the verge of reaching 20 goals this season.