Ovechkin's son joins father, Crosby for Breakaway Challenge at Skills

SUNRISE, Fla. -- It was two legends and a legend-in-the-making who took the Great Clips NHL Breakaway Challenge on Friday at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby teamed up for their attempt, drawing an ovation from the crowd as they skated to center ice, eventually earning a perfect score of 40 to best hometown favorite and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner.
Ovechkin and Crosby's attempt started with emcee and former NHL defenseman P.K. Subban asking them to each sign an All-Star jersey. But as they finished signing, Crosby cut in.
"I think we might need one more signature," Crosby said.
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Out popped Ovechkin's son, Sergei, his Capitals jersey complete with "Ovi Jr" across the back. Passing back and forth, the NHL legends gave Sergei the final shot, and the 4-year-old scored five-hole on celebrity goalie Roberto Luongo, earning a perfect score of 40 and ending with a little one-legged, stick-in-the-air celebration.
"That's a special moment, I think," Ovechkin said. "The fans love it. We both love it. It's great for the game. It's great for both of us. And obviously for Sergei, as well."
Crosby said, "I don't even think that was rehearsed. I think that was pure joy."
Ovechkin and Crosby have long been on opposite sides of a rivalry, one that started before either had even taken a shift in the NHL. They were taken No. 1 in back-to-back NHL Drafts, Ovechkin by the Capitals in 2004; Crosby by the Penguins the following year. But because of the 2004-05 work stoppage, the two started their careers together and have led the League from their respective corners of the Metropolitan Division.
"The rivalry between Sid and Ovi, it's unbelievable," said Pastrnak, who finished second. "I'm happy they came up with that. You don't see that very often, with Washington and Pittsburgh, so it was awesome."
He wasn't the only one who felt that way.
"It means a lot," Crosby said. "We were younger players coming in and there were older guys that we felt the same way about. Even though you've played in the League for a while, I think you appreciate the opportunity to spend some time with guys. … That's probably part of the highlight."
Ovechkin and Crosby are two of the all-time greats in the NHL. Ovechkin is closing in on Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record (894) and has 1,464 points (812 goals, 652 assists) in 1,326 games. Crosby has 1,469 points (541 goals, 928 assists) in 1,157 games.
"Coming in, the expectations, before we'd played a game against each other, it was already a rivalry," Crosby said. "It was kind of set up that way. But I think over time, you understand that it gets heated, it's intense on the ice. You both want to have success, but you appreciate playing against each other for as long as it's been. To still be in a tight race, in a playoff race down the stretch, all these years later, to see what he's doing, I think you just appreciate all that."
Tkachuk ended up second, going beach themed and drafting in brother Brady Tkachuk, teammate Aleksander Barkov -- as a lifeguard -- and Miami Dolphins defensive end Christian Wilkins, who handed Luongo a pool noodle as a prop. It proved an ineffective tool after Matthew donned snorkeling goggles and started skating toward Luongo.
He juggled the puck on his stick, threw it up, caught it in his hat and shot both the puck and his hat. But his 33 points weren't enough.

Pastrnak went with a "Happy Gilmore" theme to his breakaway challenge, with accomplice Linus Ullmark. With the Boston goalie dressed as his caddy, complete with a beer-straw helmet and golf bag slung over his shoulder, Pastrnak came out in a short-sleeve Bruins jersey, just as Adam Sandler did in the movie.
But when things went awry, Pastrnak -- like Sandler -- was saved by his "special putter," a la Sandler's character.
And then, surrounded by people with "Quiet" signs and a spotlight on him, Pastrnak made the short putt … er … shot into the net, earning a whopping 38 points from the judges, placing him second. Pastrnak completed the bit with Sandler's celebration, pretending to ride his stick like a bull.
"Wearing the Boston jersey, it's a classic," Pastrnak said. "It was an easy choice for me."

For his try, Marner channeled Miami Vice, a show that went off the air eight years before the 25-year-old was born. Marner had the look down, with a white suit over a sky-blue shirt with giant reflective sunglasses, pulling out a vintage cell phone the size of a shoebox.
But as good as the outfit was, Marner couldn't convert on the shot and finished with 21 points.
"I was wearing sunglasses," Marner said on the bench. "I couldn't see!"

RESULTS
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins/Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 40 voting points
David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins, 38
Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers, 33
Mitchell Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs, 21