Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin yet to live up to hype

The Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin rivalry hasn't lived up to the hype.

Not yet anyway.

Ovechkin has registered a quiet three points - one goal and two assists - while Crosby has yet to appear on the score sheet after three games in the Washington-Pittsburgh second-round series. But Crosby can take satisfaction in his team being up 2-1 in the best-of-seven after Monday's 3-2 Penguins win.

The two superstars have often matched up against each other and have ultimately negated each other's scoring touch. However, the lack of production is surprising because in 2009, the two combined for 27 points, including matching hat-tricks in Game 2, in the seven games - the only other playoff series that the two have played against each other.

Ovechkin snapped a five-game drought with a goal in Game 3 on Monday. He also took a team-high seven shots, many of them in a furious attempt to tie the game late in the third period. Washington head coach Barry Trotz relied heavily on Ovechkin as he played 23:31, the third most on the Capitals. In Games 1 and 2, the Russian sniper combined for seven shots but managed just one assist.

On the other side, Crosby was again quiet in Game 3 with just two shots in 18:35 of ice time. The 28-year-old has managed just eight shots and is a minus-three after three games in the series. In Game 1, Crosby was held in check, managing just one shot in 22:51. He finished a minus-three on the night and was on the ice for all three of T.J. Oshie's goals. The Cole Harbour, N.S. native took four shots in Game 2 but was again held off the score sheet.

Prior to this series, Ovechkin registered five points in six games in Washington's first-round series against Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Crosby tore up the Rangers for eight points in five games.