WASHINGTON — They've been in scoring races and Stanley Cup chases. Their respective trophy cases are stocked. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Penguins and Capitals. A battle that has never disappointed and has certainly stood the test of time.

But as this rivalry nears legal drinking age — one more year — it's defined less by a sprint toward some goal and more about which player or team can avoid falling off a cliff or having its competitive window close, whatever metaphor you want to use.

In other words, let's hope the fuss surrounding these two generational players who've now met for 70 times continues.

"It's always been a great rivalry," Capitals forward Tom Wilson said Friday morning at MedStar Capitals IcePlex in Arlington, Va. "You have two of the best individuals to ever play the game going at it, then two teams that have played a lot against each other, a lot of big games. The emotions are usually high."

As frustrating as the Penguins have been over the first month, take a step back and think about how fortunate we've been to have Crosby vs. Ovechkin all these years, the most recent a much-needed 4-2 Penguins victory here at Capital One Arena on Friday.

Head-to-head, Crosby now has a 41-25-4 edge in the series while producing 91 points compared to 67 for Ovechkin. But as much fun as it might be to sift through the rivalry's rich history, its next and potentially final chapter should also provide plenty of compelling theater.

The question: Which star will enjoy the better twilight years of his career?

Until Friday, I probably would have said Ovechkin, who had been riding five-game goal and point streaks. In fact, Ovechkin became just the third player in NHL history to record a five-game goal streak at 39 or older. Tracing back more, Ovechkin had 31 goals in his past 48 games, third-most in the NHL during that time.

His Capitals had won nine of 12 to start, while Crosby's Penguins were ... well, a hot mess, highlighted by a 5-1 drubbing in Raleigh on Thursday.

Then Friday's third period unfolded, a pleasant Penguins surprise and a potential life raft for their season, if they can actually hang on to it.

The Penguins, though it runs counter to their DNA, followed a recipe defined by defense, Washington managing just six shots on goal in the final 20 minutes. Evgeni Malkin scored the game-winner at 10:28. Joel Blomqvist showed what's possible with strong goaltending.

"It's a great blueprint for a team game and what we can bring to the table," Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. "We can be a whole lot harder to play against. I thought we did that in the third."

Added Bryan Rust: "We knew we needed this one."

Yeah, about time. Nobody around the team would argue with you on that one. It's also only early November.

And while Ovechkin has been lighting up the scoresheet — he had eight goals through 12 games and was on pace for 54, which would be his NHL-record 10th season with 50 or more — Crosby hasn't exactly been taking a nap.

Sid began this one with points in four of five (five goals, eight points) dating back to Oct. 29, two markers shy of becoming the 21st player in NHL history to get to 600 career goals.

That'll have to wait for another night, but here's guessing Crosby would trade it in a heartbeat for the way the Penguins responded against their longtime nemesis.

Erik Karlsson, a target for understandable reasons thus far this season, was markedly better early on, converting a pass from Malkin for the Penguins' first goal and threading the needle to Michael Bunting for their second.

It wasn't perfect, but it was the Karlsson Penguins fans have come to expect. Finally. But the bigger takeaway, honestly, was the defense, specifically in the third period, when the Penguins tightened down all over the ice.

"I thought it was one of our more complete periods," Sullivan said. "Just kinda digging in, playing a team game. Really proud of the guys."

The better third was also spurred by some words between periods from Crosby, Malkin, Kris Letang and others. It spoke to the other side of their legacy, the tougher-to-quantify half.

As a result, the Penguins seemed to leave D.C. with some semblance of belief that they can right the ship.

"We need the points," Rickard Rakell said. "We're starting to get into a rhythm and play the game that we want to."

Let's hope.

Because it could and should define where this rivalry goes next, most notably in Pittsburgh how the Penguins can possibly dig themselves out of an early-season funk.

In the meantime, it's also worth taking a step back to ponder what all we've seen from Crosby and Ovechkin together, the numbers they've produced, the significant storylines they continue to carry.

Ovechkin, who scored two goals in an 8-1 rout of the Blues on Saturday, needs just 32 goals to pass Wayne Gretzky (894) for the most all time. He'll get there.

Since Jarome Iginla did it on Jan. 4, 2016, the only other player to get to 600 was Ovechkin, who accomplished the feat on March 12, 2018. Crosby should reach that incredible number next week, adding more fuel to the Penguins-Capitals fire.

"It's such a proud rivalry for the league because you've got two incredible players who have had such successful careers not only individually, but team-wise," Capitals coach Spencer Carberry said. "It's been such a luxury for us to be able to watch."

Added Sullivan: "I've been fortunate enough to watch it for 10 years now. It's been an amazing thing. I just have so much respect for both of those guys."

Their numbers — 87 and 8 — are iconic and sometimes double as nicknames. But I'm more blown away by the number 32 when it comes to these guys.

As in the number of Hart, Art Ross and Rocket Richard trophies, as well as Conn Smythe and Ted Lindsay awards they've combined to win. They've pushed each other. They've battled. As Ovechkin described Friday morning, they've also become closer friends over the years.

"We have a good relationship with what we've been through," Ovechkin said. "I respect him as a person and a player."

"I'm grateful to be part of it," Crosby said. "You want to compete at the highest level, to be in that conversation with him over the years, I hope we've gotten the best out of each other. Hopefully we've got some strong years left."

It's not an easy thing to do — retooling, recalibrating, reloading or whatever the heck you want to call the gymnastics that teams try to perform around aging stars to keep that competitive window open. Both teams are there. The Capitals could have a slight advantage.

But to make these final few holes as exciting as the first 15 or so, the Penguins should know they need to bottle what they found in the third period against Ovechkin's Capitals and repeat it.

Again, it's been nothing short of scintillating all these years. Let's hope there's more in store.

"They both have that drive to want to be the best ever," Wilson said. "With Ovi, it's constant hunger to keep scoring, to keep being the best. Obviously I don't know Sid as well. But growing up, you watch a guy like him, what he's done for the game of hockey ... both of them, in their own way, have given the game so much.

"I don't know if there will ever be a rivalry like this again — where two guys come in at the same time, different personalities, but 20 years in, they're still two of the best in the league."

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