Filed Under » Sidney Crosby

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."

Penguins star Sidney Crosby may return to the ice from a broken jaw for Game 1 of Pittsburgh's first round series against the New York Islanders, but there is concern he will not be able to produce at 100-percent.

"We haven't yet found a bubble that allows him to hold his stick outside of the bubble to stickhandle the puck," said head coach Dan Bylsma. "That is usually a big aspect of Sid's game. Right now he can only push the puck along the ice with his bubble as he rolls it. He's still making plays that way in practice, but it's not quite the same thing."

The Penguins have also struggled to keeps Crosby's bubble inflated, as his razor-sharp skates have repeatedly sliced through it, leaving him in nothing but a hockey helmet, protective face shield, shoulder pads and chest protector, elbow pads, padded gloves, padded hockey pants, knee/shin guards and reinforced skates — essentially unprotected.

"I don't think we can risk that happening in a game," said Bylsma. "Sure, he might be able to last a shift or two, but eventually he's going to get hurt. And hurt bad. He'll take a slap shot off the neck or 400-pound speaker from the arena ceiling will break loose, fall and land on him. It's just his luck."