The Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin debate continues but takes on a different tone. And an endless Fischler One-Liners in his "I'm Just Sayin'."

The ongoing "Who's Better?" question -- Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin -- never gets boring but it's taken a weird twist so far this season.

No question but that The Great Ovie has slumped and finally could be on the downside of his career.

Ironically, his Capitals -- picked to miss the playoffs -- are flourishing and currently own the final Wild Card in the East.

Meanwhile, no longer a kid, Sidney is playing nothing less than MVP hockey. Bolstered with new blood, the Penguins are battling to stay above the .500 mark and sit 14th out of 16 teams in the East with 25 points.

Go figure... Can't wait to see how these two fair going forward. 

Incidentally, 87 has collected 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points and is a plus-11 in 26 games why The Great 8 has yet to catch fire this season scoring only five goals with eleven assists for 16 points and only one power play red-lighter.

I'M JUST SAYIN'

* Best Penguins alibi is the injury factor. 

* Other than the top line -- Crosby, Rust, Guentzel -- scoring is an issue.

* New Senators owner Michael Andlauer is a cool cat; and I'll tell you why:

* He refuses to be media-pushed into an impetuous move; and you gotta like that.

* That is, if you expect your Senators to make the playoffs next spring.

* Hamiltonians who hoped their being-renovated arena will bring NHL hockey to their city. Sorry. It will have Junior and minor pro hockey but won't be big enough for the big fellas.

* Once again, a lot of noise is being made about NHLers being in the next Olympics, but, in the end, it may fade like smoke rings.

* The Maven's street smarts indicate that the Coyotes ownership will find a suitable site for its next ice palace.

* One reason why Blues goalkeeper Jordan Binnington is having a comeback year is his decision to NOT be the Heavyweight Champion of NHL goalies.

* If my old pal, Ed Giacomin, happens to be reading this; please Ed, read on; it may be of interest to you.

* The Detroit-based Venetian Club of Mutual Aid was founded in 1928 by Italian immigrants from Italy's Northeast region, including Friuli Giulia.

* Based on Eddie's last name, a Venetian historian would like Signor Giacomin to step forward and either confirm or deny if his family roots are traced to that burgh.

* Just for the record, the first NHLer from that area was Nelson DeBenedet whoser family immigrated to Sudbury, Ontario as a kid.

* He played his first game for the Winged Wheels on December 13, 1973.

* DeBenedet was one of the first Italian-born players in the NHL exactly 50 years ago.(Research thanks to Dave Pagnucco.)

* You had to figure that sooner or later Taylor Swift -- The Maven's ninth favorite performer -- would squeeze into a hockey story. Naturally it surfaced in the NY Post and the hockey player involved is Patrick Kane. 

* Trouble is that the yarn is so old that Denis Savard was coaching Chi at the time and all that it was about was Kane chatting with the then-virtually-unknown Swift outside the Blackhawks team bus.

* So, what was the big deal? Really nothing except Savard nudged Kane to get on the bus and off the schmoozing so that the vehicle could get going.

* The Maven only mentions this because my aim this year was to get Taylor in the column once and I was running out of days.

* WHEW!* Tony D'Angelo keeps going up and up and up "The Most Traded List" 

* The day Tony D winds up back in Philadelphia will be the day John Tortorella repairs the Liberty Bell -- and sends the bill to Benjamin Franklin.

* Don't look now but the Bruins are learning the meaning of "attrition."

* Barry Trotz has been beefing about trade leaks and I say "Shame on you!"

* Trotz-kala, you worked for Lou Lamoriello long enough to learn how to eliminate leaks. 

* WARN THE AGENTS WITH AN 'OR ELSE.' 

* They'll get the message faster than Torts learns to Mambo!