Ovechkin dodges Penguins' farewells, still mulling retirement - ESPN

WASHINGTON — After their 3-0 loss on Sunday, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins lingered on the ice in preparation for a farewell handshake with Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who is considering retirement after this season.

Instead, they left for the dressing room after Ovechkin waved them off.

'I [haven't] decided yet. Thanks to them for waiting out there," Ovechkin said.

Ovechkin announced last week that he would decide on his future in the offseason, after consulting with his family and the Capitals. The 40-year-old winger, in his 21st NHL season, has 32 goals and 31 assists in 81 games. Sunday was potentially the final home game of Ovechkin's career if the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer chooses to retire. Fans serenaded him with «one more year!» chants throughout the game. His response to those fans?

«I will think about it,» he said, smiling.

It was a game filled with video tributes, standing ovations and several moments that honored Ovechkin's decades-long rivalry with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins. That included a pregame photo of the trio, as well as a postgame meeting between the rivals away from fans and media. Ovechkin also took the opening faceoff of the game against Crosby after the Capitals's Dylan Strome was chased from the circle.

«I've got to give credit to the referee there. I'm not sure which one it was that said that, but he thought it was a good idea. So I was obviously all in,» Strome said. «Thankfully they didn't score.»

No matter the final score, Crosby and the Penguins were ready to honor Ovechkin in what could be their final meeting. But Ovechkin had other ideas.

«It's kind of in [Ovechkin] fashion. He's like, 'I'm not retired, so leave me alone. I don't want to