Filed Under » Pittsburgh Penguins

While most in hockey thought the Sidney Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin rivalry hit its peak in 2009, the battle between hockey's two most recognizable stars may be back on after Crosby matched Ovechkin's scoreless exit from the postseason with a pointsless series loss of his own.

"Remember how they went toe to toe in the in 2009 playoffs and lit up the scoreboard?" said Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma. "This was like that but completely opposite. I'll never forget it. Unfortunately."

Hockey fans immediately began debating which star had a less impressive exit: Ovechkin going pointsless over the final five games of a first round series against the Rangers, despite holding a two games to one lead, or Crosby being held without a point as his stacked Penguins were swept out of the conference finals by the Bruins.

NBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury said the rekindled rivalry will be huge for hockey.

"These are the top two names in the sport and whenever they're on the same level, that's a positive for the NHL," he said. "Also, it will grow the sport in many other cities that will beat the Capitals and Penguins in the playoffs."

Just one day before the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins are set to begin battle for the NHL's Eastern Conference crown, the teams came together to ask that their series not be the impetus for the return of Wiz Khalifa's rap anthem "Black and Yellow."

"I know our fans are very excited about this series, and it is well-known that both teams where the colors black and ye- … well, I don't even want to say it, in case the words somehow summon the song," said Penguins general manager Ray Shero. "While on the ice we will be enemies, off the ice we agree that we don't want to hear that song ever again."

Khalifa's "Black and Yellow" came out in 2010 and earned heavy play during the Steelers' run to an AFC title. Its life was extended in the spring of 2011 when Boston fans adopted the Pittsburgh rapper's hit and played it during the Bruins' Stanley Cup title march.

"It wasn't so bad two or three years ago, I guess," said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. "But, my god, I don't know if I can take a rebirth. Plus, it's really more of a Pittsburgh song, which makes it kind of pathetic for Boston fans to use it. Hell, let's let Pittsburgh own that ear murder."

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the Stanley Cup playoffs as a heavy favorite to reach the Cup finals out of the Eastern Conference. But after opening the first round with a 5-0 win over the Islanders, the team's defense has been torched and is unable to hold leads — thanks in no part by goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury letting in soft goals every game.

But instead of panicking over the team's Cup dreams fading away, general manager Ray Shero has turned to Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University for help in creating a goalie via the school's 3D printer.

"I'm not willing to sit still and watch this team die," said Shero. "Not after the regular season we had and all the trades we made. Marc simply hasn't done the job and our backup, Tomas Vokoun, is almost 37. He can't be expected to play every game in the playoffs. So creating a real, functioning goalie with a 3D printer was the best option."

Carnegie Mellon engineering professor Dr. Emmett Moncrief handled the job for the Penguins.

"I have actually had the designs of a prototype since last year when Fleury let in every shot against the Flyers," he said. "I knew it would be the same this year. I wasn't surprised when Mr. Shero called."