Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are young and ridiculously talented and have the potential to develop a terrific rivalry as their careers in the NHL move along.

Especially if they're as competitive on the ice as they were during a couple of conference calls yesterday, when they battled fiercely to see who could say more flattering things about the other.

The unofficial verdict is: Too close to call.

Consider Crosby's scathing assessment of Ovechkin: "He's a great player. Obviously, he has had a great start to the season so far. He's got good speed. He can do it all, I think. He's definitely dangerous when he's out there. He's someone I'm sure other teams have to watch. He's really dangerous. So, like I said, he's a great player."

Ovechkin, not to be outdone, countered with his evaluation of Crosby: "He's a great passer and he sees the ice real well. ... He's a great passer, like [Wayne] Gretzky, and he can see the ice. ... I think he's a great player."

Crosby and Ovechkin, a Washington left winger, will meet for the first time as pros when the Capitals visit Mellon Arena at 7:38 p.m. today. It is a game that has generated considerable interest and attention around North America because it features the top player taken in each of the past two entry drafts.

Washington owner Ted Leonsis has likened Crosby-Ovechkin to Larry Bird-Magic Johnson, although Crosby was quick to point out that neither he nor Ovechkin has been around long enough to have the impact or profile of those two.

"I've played 20 games in the NHL," he said. "I think I have a long way to go before I can compare myself to guys like that. I'm sure [Ovechkin] thinks the same way. We're having fun playing in the NHL, but we have a long way to go before we get to a matchup like that."

Tarnstrom close to returning

Penguins defenseman Dick Tarnstrom, out since his medial collateral ligament was torn Oct. 27, is close to rejoining the lineup. So close that he hasn't ruled out trying to play tonight, although that seems highly unlikely.

Tarnstrom made it through a full-speed workout yesterday and reported no problem. "It feels all right. It feels better and better with every day that goes by."

It seems reasonable to expect him to return this weekend when the Penguins visit Florida Friday and Tampa Bay Sunday.

No Games

Mario Lemieux, who was the captain of Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and has been penciled in to fill that role again in Italy in February, said he will not participate if he isn't healthy and playing well.

"There are too many good young players now that to take a spot just to take a spot would not be right for Team Canada or myself," he said.

He also made it clear, though, that he hopes to go after a second gold medal. "If I'm playing well and they want me there, I'll be there for them."

Endicott hurt again

Penguins center Shane Endicott, who made his 2005-06 debut in the Penguins' 6-3 loss to Philadelphia Saturday, left midway through practice yesterday after aggravating a high ankle sprain.

The severity of Endicott's problem was not immediately known, but he has realized for a while that his injury is the kind that might well dog him until spring. "Every time I skate, it swells up pretty bad after. It's just something I'm going to have to deal with. This might be a season-long thing that will be a little aggravating."

High-flying minors

The Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre is the second team in league history to get at least one point in each of its first 17 games, and will have a chance to set the record when Providence visits Wachovia Arena tomorrow. The Baby Penguins also have won 11 consecutive road games, two shy of the AHL record. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is averaging a league-high 4.59 goals per game, while allowing a league-low average of 1.94.

Slap shots

Washington is rebuilding and is a near-lock to end up with a lottery pick in next year's entry draft, but is pretty dangerous when games stretch past the third period. The Capitals have not lost in overtime and are 3-0 in shootouts, with Ovechkin scoring the deciding goal in two of them. ... Washington right winger Matt Bradley, who had 16 points in 82 games with the Penguins in the 2003-04 season, has points in five of his past six games, picking up two goals and four assists during that span. ... Capitals center Andrew Cassels is scheduled to appear in his 1,000th NHL game tonight.