Ron Schwane / Reuters

Sidney Crosby (left) working against Alex Ovechkin. The two young superstars not only entertain fans with their abundant talent, they engage them with their unbridled enthusiasm, writes Bill Clement of NBCSports.com.

A special kind of appeal
Both Crosby and Ovechkin make themselves emotionally available to fans. By that I mean they allow fans to share with them what they are feeling because they are so demonstrative emotionally, especially Ovechkin. Some players when they score raise their hands or pump their fist. Others are low key. Brett Hull hardly ever outwardly celebrated scoring a goal. But Crosby and Ovechkin give fans two superstars who wear their feelings on their sleeves for all in the arena to not only see but to feel as well.

With Ovechkin there is a charisma that is driven by his passion for the game and it just radiates from the ice on up into the stands. It’s magnetic and almost tangible. Fans can almost feel his obsession with scoring every time he touches the puck. There’s never been a player fans can appreciate more when scoring than Ovechkin. He’s in a class by himself.

The Russian’s goal celebrations and the magnetism that emanates from his body when he scores are second to none. And when he scores the unbridled joy and passionate current that run through him prove contagious, especially if he is playing on the Capitals’ home ice where when he finds the net it’s like he somehow throws out to the fans extension cords so each of them can feed off the electricity he brings to the moment.

Worthy of being called great
When talking about greatness nothing ever surprises me, and I don’t throw the word “greatness” around lightly. But to anyone who has seen Crosby and Ovechkin play there is an immediate recognition that though they are still just kids in a hockey sense, they both possess greatness.

All truly great players are more concerned with team success than they are with their individual greatness. Just watch the way Crosby and Ovechkin get excited when one of their teammates scores or makes a tremendous play. They celebrate like the feat was their own. They are intoxicated with having their teams succeed, further proof of greatness on display.

It’s super that Crosby and Ovechkin are so unbelievably honest, never choosing to hide their emotions. Their talents are to marvel at, but there is no understating how beneficial their sense of honesty and openness are for the sport. Those qualities alone make them both well worth the price of admission.

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Heading to the Cup finals

Adam Henrique scored off a wild scramble in front early in OT and the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 3-2 to advance to their first Stanley Cup finals since '03. The new Eastern champs will face LA next.

NBC Sports

Highlights: OT goal delivers Devils to Cup finals

  Check out highlights as the New Jersey Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals by defeating the New York Rangers, 3-2, in overtime.

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