Penguins’ Sidney Crosby shares priceless reaction to Alex Ovechkin’s diet

Few rivalries in the NHL are as well-known as the one between Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, two of the league’s most iconic stars.

Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, has built a reputation not just for his production but also for his unusual eating habits across a 21-season career. His routine reportedly includes consuming a Subway sandwich and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos on road trips, eating chicken parmesan before home games, and even keeping soda on the bench instead of water. Still, his performance has remained unaffected over the years, a point Crosby acknowledged during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.

Crosby admitted that Ovechkin’s approach is unique and effective, but not something he could replicate.

“No, I wish,” Crosby said. “I wish. I wish I could do that. But, yeah, he can do that. I think it hasn’t affected him one bit. He’s still filling the net.”

While Crosby keeps an eye on his own diet, he admitted he is not as strict as some players and opened up on how his habits have evolved.

“No, I mean, I try to keep an eye on it,” said Crosby. “I love sweets, wouldn’t say I’m super dialed in, but I’m much better than I was. Wish I would have known a lot of this stuff when I was younger, for sure. I didn’t quite follow it as close then.”

"I wish I could have the same diet as Alexander Ovechkin

That's a nice program" ~ Sidney Crosby #PMSLive https://t.co/ZkQENmQ7FS pic.twitter.com/UuasPcCbJI

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 16, 2026

The comments come as the two superstars reached another milestone, playing their 100th career matchup across regular-season and playoff games. Their rivalry traces back to November 22, 2005, when Crosby recorded a goal and an assist and Ovechkin contributed a helper in a 5-4 Penguins win. Over the years, their head-to-head clashes have produced high-scoring games, including an 8-7 Pittsburgh victory in 2017 where Crosby had four points, and a 2010 contest in which Ovechkin recorded a hat trick en route to a four-point performance.

One of their most memorable moments came during the 2009 playoffs, when both players struck for hat tricks in the same game, with Ovechkin firing 12 shots on goal and Crosby finishing with five. Although the Capitals won that game 4-3, the Penguins ultimately captured the series and the Stanley Cup.

With Ovechkin’s contract set to expire in July and uncertainty surrounding his future, he indicated on Thursday during the Capitals’ Breakdown Day that he is “pretty sure” he has not played his final NHL game. If he returns, the league could see more matchups between two players whose careers and contrasting styles have defined an era.

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