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

FORT LAUDERDALE, 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 forward 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.

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.

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.

Tkachuk ended up second, starting his bit walking down a beach alongside brother and Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, with towels, bucket hats and sunglasses. With Matthew standing at center ice, Brady showed up, set up his beach chair and was joined by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov in a lifeguard costume.

Out walked Miami Dolphins defensive end Christian Wilkins, who handed Luongo a pool noodle. 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 to beat Ovechkin and Crosby.

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak opted to go with a “Happy Gilmore” theme to his breakaway challenge, with accomplice Linus Ullmark. With the Boston goalie dressed as his caddy, complete with 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.

Video: Pastrnak’s Happy Gilmore in Breakaway Challenge

Pastrnak completed the bit with Sandler’s celebration, pretending to ride his stick like a bull.

For his try, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner channeled Miami Vice, a show that went off the air eight years before the 25-year-old was born.

He started on video, clad in a white suit over a sky-blue shirt with giant reflective sunglasses, pulling out a vintage cell phone the size of a shoebox. On the other end was Subban, vowing to help him out with his act. Out came Luongo to meet Marner, who had added to the outfit with a pair of white skates accented in pink and sparkly silver.

But as good as the outfit was, Marner couldn’t convert on the shot, with Luongo making a sprawling save and keeling over, earning Marner 21 points.

And Marner had another issue too.

“I was wearing sunglasses,” Marner said on the bench. “I couldn’t see!”

Video: Marner suits up in style for Breakaway Challenge