Alex Ovechkin's Final Home Opener Against Sidney Crosby

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's all-time goals leader, announced that the current season will be his last, making Wednesday's home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins particularly significant. The game is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Ovechkin, who signed a one-year contract worth $4.25 million, expressed his desire to thank those who have supported him throughout his career. He has achieved numerous records, including being the all-time leader in regular-season goals, power-play goals, and game-winning goals. His career totals stand at 929 regular-season goals and 1,006 goals when including playoffs.

Sidney Crosby, Ovechkin's long-time rival, is also in the final year of his contract but has no plans to retire. The two players have faced each other 100 times in the NHL, with Crosby leading their regular-season encounters. The rivalry has included four playoff series, with Ovechkin winning his first Stanley Cup in 2018 against Crosby's Penguins.