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Crosby, Ovechkin continue see-saw Richard race

Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby

Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin (8), from Russia, shakes hands with Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) following Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series, Wednesday, May 13, 2009, in Washington. The Penguins won 6-2. (AP Photo/Bruce Bennett, Pool)

AP

It’s almost as if Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are playing some sort of telepathic game of goal scoring “H-O-R-S-E.” The two seem especially likely to score when the other did so earlier in a given day. Really, the Rocket Richard trophy lead is as fleeting as an encounter with Kaiser Soze. Ovechkin scored his 46th of the year on a power play during the first period of what would be a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. It gave the goal scoring dynamo the lead ... for a matter of a few hours.

That’s because Sidney Crosby scored two goals within four minutes in the second period of a 5-4 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Obviously, Crosby has had the advantage since he’s played in 10 more games than Ovechkin, but I doubt that the league will complain that its two biggest stars could fight the rest of the season for the Richard trophy. Of course, neither player can sleep on the dark horse candidate in the goal scoring race: Steven Stamkos. The sophomore center has 45 goals so anything can happen in this net-filling race.