Ovechkin & Crosby Teaming Up For Breakaway Challenge In NHL All-Star Skills

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is set to take the ice at FLA Live Arena on Friday and Saturday for the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend, and for the skills competition, he's teaming up with a longtime rival: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

Per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Ovechkin and Crosby are putting their rivalry aside and will compete in the Breakaway Challenge together at the All-Star Skills Competition on Friday. It will mark the first time the two will work together, and surely enough, they'll have something big in store.

Ovechkin has won the Breakaway Challenge three times in his storied career, taking home the title in 2008, 2009 and 2011. Crosby has never won a Breakaway Challenge title but won the accuracy shooting competition in 2017. He also holds the record for the most points and assists in the 3-on-3 format.

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This is Ovechkin's eighth All-Star appearance and Crosby's fifth. For years, Ovechkin competed in the hardest shot contest. Of course, he is famous for some nice trick shots, including one where he teamed up with another Penguin in Evgeni Malkin, took a drink of Gatorade, put on some sunglasses and a hat with a Canadian flag and scored on a rebound while using two sticks.

Both Ovechkin and Crosby are making headlines with standout seasons at the ages of 37 and 36. Through 52 games this season, Ovechkin has 32 goals and 22 assists for 54 points. He has passed Gordie Howe for second on the NHL's all-time goals list and also tied Mike Gartner for the most 30-goal seasons in NHL history (17). Meanwhile, Crosby has 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 49 games and going into the break, is on a seven-game point streak.