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2022 NHL All-Star Weekend

NHL All-Star Skills Recap: Zegras Robbed, Kaprizov ‘Gr8,’ Caps Have Blast

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All-Star Skills: Trevor Zegras

A top-notch Ovechkin impersonation, another Trevor Zegras highlight, a new fastest skater champion and a magic show. Those events and more are what took place at quite an eventful 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Friday.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened in Vegas.

Zegras has dazzled with stunning moves this season to the point where he was flown out to Vegas specifically for the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills Competition. Some wondered if he could top the over-the-net pass that he dubbed “The Dishigan” and his rendition of the “Michigan” against Montreal. And as a short answer: he did.

No. 46 came out clad in an Average Joe’s uniform and a headband. He was then blindfolded, just as Peter LaFleur was in “Dodgeball.” And, with mascots throwing dodgeballs and a blindfold secured, Zegras showed off smooth skating and spun around, waving the puck around on his stick before snapping it past Wyatt Russell for one of the greatest breakaway challenge goals of all time. Yes, all time. See for yourself:

The attempt got Zegras a score of 58 from the judges. Jack Hughes followed up with a magic trick featuring a mini Jack Hughes that scored a 59 that bested Zegras by one point, but ultimately, it was Alex Pietrangelo that trumped both of them.

Pietrangelo had a special guest heckling him in Carrot Top. The Vegas Golden Knights forward ended up bringing out a drumline before attempting to score on a breakaway. However, Manon Rheaume stopped him, and he couldn’t convert. Still, a 19 from Jon Hamm, a St. Louis Blues fan, gave Pietrangelo the victory.

Zegras’ attempt was by far, whether he could see or not and whether or not Hughes technically scored higher, the best move of the contest. It was also one of the most impressive plays. The athleticism, skating ability, timing and stickhandling ability need to be perfect. The 20-year-old did all of that and more.

Meanwhile, Kirill Kaprizov also stole the show with a viral, picture-perfect imitation of Alex Ovechkin that you can’t miss. The Great 8 even took to Twitter to applaud the 24-year-old.

READ MORE ON WHN: Ovechkin Reacts To Kaprizov’s Spot-On Imitation In Breakaway Challenge

Evgeny Kuznetsov, who helped Kaprizov and was also at the All-Star Game, said before the festivities that he likes watching players like Zegras and enjoys the creativity.

“That’s what we need more, you know? We need more fun on the ice more skill. I feel like a lot of players have a skill but you know they’re afraid to do something because the guys will make jokes or coaches will be hard on them because it’s all about wins it’s not about like show who you are in the game and you know it’s nice that the players try to do something like that and it work out,” Kuznetsov explained.

Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson didn’t have the best results at the skills competition, but had a blast as the Capitals were well-represented — and now have an honorary member in Kaprizov.

In the fastest skater competition, Kuznetsov finished last after knocking over a cone to start and then gliding and ending his lap on a more graceful note. Still, the celebration was priceless despite the result. Connor McDavid, the three-time champion, did not win and came in fourth while Jordan Kyrou won.

Wilson competed in the hardest shot, and though he couldn’t top Victor Hedman’s 103.2 MPH slap shot, he hit the century mark on a 101.1 MPH blast.

Meanwhile, in other events, Zach Werenski won the Fountain Face-Off in 25.634 seconds. Sebastian Aho won the accuracy shooting challenge in 10.937 seconds, Joe Pavelski won the 21 in ’22 and Jack Campbell and Andrei Vasilevskiy won the save streak challenge by combining for nine straight stops against the Metro Division.

The 3-on-3 All-Star Game tournament starts on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET

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