Pettersson, a forward with the Vancouver Canucks, had defeated Ovechkin and three other players in the GEICO NHL Hardest Shot event at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook with a blast of 103.2 mph Friday.
Given that Pettersson is 6-foot-2, 176 pounds, the Washington Capitals captain wondered where the power could come to shoot a puck with such velocity from someone so relatively frail.
"I think it was a little bit of cheating," Ovechkin said. "I don't think, when you look at him, that …"
The 37-year-old then broke into laughter.
"I'm joking, of course. Good for him."
For Pettersson, the pre-event spotlight on Ovechkin helped him relax.
"Obviously it's fun," the 24-year-old said. "I mean, you're going up against probably the greatest goal-scorer ever, so I just tried to hit it as hard as I could."
The Canucks center, who was selected to his fifth NHL All-Star Game, won the event for the first time. He was the first of five shooters, and after posting a 100.8 mph shot on his first attempt he came back with the winning shot.
"It's hours and hours of training," Pettersson said. "I think now it's just, I guess, muscle memory. There's been a lot of practice behind it."
Pettersson became the fourth forward to win the event, and the first since Ovechkin in 2018 with a shot of 101.3 mph. He is also the first Canucks player to win it.
The closest competitor was Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. The two-time NHL All-Star posted a second shot of 102.3 after his first shot was 97.9 mph.
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey finished third with a second attempt of 95.7 mph after his first shot went 95.0 mph.
Ovechkin was the clear crowd favorite, but the 13-time NHL All-Star rang his first shot off both posts and only hit 95.1 mph on his second to finish fourth. Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones was fifth with shots of 93.2 and 94.7 mph.
"Obviously I missed my first one. And after that it was, well, whatever. It's all about the fun and the people you're out there with," Ovechkin said.
"I think that first shot would have done it for me. It left a mark on the post so it was strange they didn't give me any [velocity] numbers. They said it was a missed shot. I hit the net. Give it to me."
He then broke into a mischievous laugh again.
Pettersson's win means that the player with the hardest shot in the League is from Sweden for the second consecutive year. Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman won in 2022 also with a shot of 103.2 mph, the same as Pettersson's winning mark. Defenseman Zdeno Chara holds Hardest Shot record of 108.8 mph in 2012.
RESULTS (better of two attempts)
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks, 103.2
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres, 102.3
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets, 95.7
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals, 95. 1
Seth Jones, Chicago Blackhawks, 94.7
