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 Mitch 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.
