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Penguins, Capitals Set for Special End of Season

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will close their 2025-26 season out with likely a pair of emotional contests.

Nick Horwat

May 7, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) moves the puck against pressure from Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) during the second period in game six of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime to win the series 4 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
May 7, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) moves the puck against pressure from Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) during the second period in game six of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG PAINTS Arena. The Capitals won 2-1 in overtime to win the series 4 games to 2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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All 32 teams across the NHL have released their schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins appear to be ending their year with an important contest. Evgeni Malkin is likely suiting up for his final season with the Penguins, and they close their home schedule with contest against rival Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

Assuming the Penguins won’t be a playoff team in the upcoming season, Malkin will close out his time in Pittsburgh against a player and a team he has had many heated battles with. Malkin and Ovechkin are both Russian natives and were selected No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, in the 2004 NHL Draft.

Ever since Malkin made his NHL debut in 2006, his career has been closely tied with Ovechkin’s. Sure, Ovechkin and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby caught a ton of headlines, Malkin also stepped to the plate for his fair share of heat in the rivalry.

Between off-ice drama and some on-ice heat, the rivalry between Malkin and Ovechkin has made for plenty of memorable moments as both future Hall of Famers reach the end of their careers.

While nothing is official, that game could also very well be the final time Ovechkin plays an NHL game in Pittsburgh. Both Malkin and Ovechkin will be 40 years old during the season on what will likely be farewell tours.

It’s the presence of Malkin, Ovechkin, and Crosby that made the rivalry between the Penguins and Capitals so entertaining and must-watch hockey for 20 years.

The meeting between the Penguins and Capitals is also a home-and-home set. The following night, the Capitals will close out their home slate by hosting the Penguins.

The playoffs aren’t guaranteed for either team, so fans are sure to be treated to some special moments as two of the biggest names in the sport might be closing out their careers against one another.

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Nick Horwat
NICK HORWAT

Nick Horwat is a contributor with Breakaway On SI. He was previously a credentialed reporter for The Hockey News covering the Pittsburgh Penguins. A Pittsburgh native, Nick graduated from Point Park University and started reporting on news and sports with KDKA Radio and 93.7 The Fan. After hosting a Penguins talk radio show in college, he morphed the show into a podcast. The Tip of the Ice-Burgh Podcast has been a leading Penguins podcast since 2019. Follow him on Twitter @NickHorwat41.

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