Crosby, Ovechkin in tight race for most goals in 2016
After all this time, it's still all about Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.
A decade after breaking into the NHL at the same time as two of the most-hyped rookies of all time, and with less than a month remaining in 2016, the two superstars sit atop the goals list this calendar year, and it might not be settled until New Year's Eve.
Watch: Crosby continues to find new ways to score
Here's a look at where the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar center and the Washington Capitals sniper stand as of Dec. 2:
| Player | Games Played | Goals | Games Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | 62 | 43 | 14 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 65 | 41 | 13 |
Based on these numbers, it would appear as though the unofficial honor is Crosby's to lose, especially when you consider he's scored more goals per game than Ovechkin and has one more date on the schedule to work with.
It would be an impressive feat for a player not known for eye-popping goal totals, and one that Ovechkin would have had locked up were it not for Crosby's 16 goals in 18 games this season.
Ovechkin, however, is known to score in bunches, and can't be counted out by any stretch.
The players with the next three highest goal totals are likely all but out of the running.
- Wayne Simmonds - 34
- Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane - 31
- Alex Galchenyuk, Mark Scheifele - 31
Crosby is also on pace to finish first in total points, and has won both the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2016.
It's quite possible that Edmonton's Connor McDavid - who's on Crosby's heels for the title of "best player in hockey" - and Winnipeg's Patrik Laine will finish first in points and goals respectively by the end of the 2016-17 regular season, confirming their status as the ones to take over from Crosby and Ovechkin moving forward.
For the time being, however, this dynamic duo continues to perform at the highest of levels, and will battle it out for the top goal-scorer of 2016 over the rest of the month.