Crosby, who made his fifth All-Star Game appearance, and Ovechkin, who made his eighth, also played together in the 3-on-3 tournament in 2017 and 2018, so this was not a new experience for them. But Ovechkin is 37 and Crosby is 35, and it's unknown how many more All-Star Games they'll play in together.
Like many others, Metropolitan coach Rod Brind'Amour wanted to see them play together Saturday, and they delivered like they have throughout their careers.
Crosby leads active players and is 15th in NHL history with 1,469 points (541 goals, 928 assists). Ovechkin is second in NHL history with 812 goals (behind Wayne Gretzky's 894) and second among active players, and 17th in NHL history, with 1,464 points.
"'Ovi' and Sid [are] guys that have taken the torch from the Gretzkys and it went to them, and now Sid and Ovi have done so much for the game of hockey," said Brind'Amour, the Carolina Hurricanes coach. "And you've got the younger guys seeing them do it, and that's how it has to happen."