Alex Ovechkin dramatically earns diving penalty vs. Penguins (Video)

The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins renewed acquaintances on Thursday night in a typically intense game between the rivals. Both teams looked for any advantage they could get. Which, in Alex Ovechkin’s case, meant a rather epic dive.

With two minutes left in the second period, Kris Letang of the Penguins battled Ovechkin in front of the Pittsburgh net. He gave the Washington star a cross-check. Ovechkin responded by dramatically crumpling to the ice, snapping his head back on the way down.

The result: Letang was rung up for a two-minute cross-checking penalty, and Ovechkin received two minutes for embellishment.

One of the strangest side effects of the Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin rivalry is the need to point out that despite Crosby’s reputation, Ovechkin dives “too.”

This is strange because it’s an irrefutable fact that Alex Ovechkin occasionally embellishes. To the point where the referees aren’t impressed.

But so does everyone else in the NHL. Crosby just gets called out for it because it defined his game early in his career. Which isn't fair, being that it's now 2016.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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