San Jose Sharks rookie forwards Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith are about to face Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin for the first time.
At 18 and 19 years old, respectively, the duo grew up watching Ovi, Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane, and others.
Celebrini has gone on record as a big Crosby fan and has enjoyed watching the rivalry between Crosby and Ovechkin. After Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks, much of the NHL world sees the potential for Celebrini and Connor Bedard to develop a similar rivalry.
“It was just awesome seeing those guys compete against each other,” Celebrini said. “They faced each other so many times in the playoffs. Just watching that hockey is his peak childhood for those playoffs.”
Celebrini told reporters that he had met Ovechkin when he was five or six while his father worked for the Vancouver Canucks.
Smith and Celebrini didn’t face Ovechkin during their visit to Washington due to Ovechkin’s leg injury.
“He’s one of those guys you mark on your calendar [that] you want to play against,” Smith said. “[I’m] definitely mad I missed him in Washington, but it’s gonna be pretty cool tomorrow.”
Ovechkin is chasing history as he enters San Jose. He is nine goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky and becoming the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer.
“He’s been in the league for so long and has all these goals with all these hits, too. He’s had some pretty cool moments, and it’s gonna be amazing to play [against him],” Smith said.
“It’s amazing. You look at him and Sid and what they’re still doing. They are still two of the best players in the world, and how dominant they’ve been,” Celebrini said. Ovi has, like, what, 36, 37 goals now. Like, that’s insane. That’s that’s unheard of.”
Will Smith’s Favorite Ovechkin Goal
Like everyone, Smith acknowledged Ovi’s greatest goal—the over-the-head backhand goal while lying on the ice against the Coyotes. But Smith also loved his goal against the New York Rangers in the postseason.
“He had one against the Rangers. He did this cut at the blue line, then dips-doodle got tripped and had a backhander.”
Macklin Celebrini’s Favorite Ovechkin Goal
Celebrini couldn’t get past Ovechkin’s incredible goal against the Coyotes.
The San Jose Sharks rookie did add to that thought by saying he used to watch highlight packages of Ovechkin’s patented one-timer.
“That one was pretty crazy,” Celebrini smiled. “I mean, his one-Ts. Growing up, you always watch [his] highlights and mix tapes. You get to see all the goals. His ability to shoot the puck is pretty much all you watched.”
The San Jose Sharks will host the Washington Capitals in a Saturday afternoon game at 2 p.m. PT.
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