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Pettersson won the event with the hardest shot with a lanky center stick blast that recorded 103.2 mph.
Author of the article:
The Canadian Press
Joshua Clipperton
Published on 02/03/2023 • 4 minutes of reading time
Join the Conversation Vancouver Canucks Elias Pettersson (40) participates in the NHL All-Star Skills Showcase on Friday, February 3, 2023 in Sunrise, Florida. Pettersson won the hardest-hitting event with a batting lanky center, which recorded 103.2 mph, beating Alex Ovechkin and three other competitors. Photo by Marta Lavandier/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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SUNRISE, Fla. — Elias Pettersson gave the Vancouver Canucks a rare memorable moment in an otherwise unforgettable season.
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Off the ice, Sidney Crosby dived and Nick Suzuki scored his first birdie of the year.
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The NHL All-Star Skills Competition featured the classic events on Friday – with a South Florida twist.
Pettersson won the event with the hardest shot with a lanky center stick burst recording 103.2 mph, beating Alex Ovechkin and three other competitors.
“Probably the all-time leading scorer,” Pettersson said of the Washington Capitals captain. “No pressure so I just tried to hit as hard as I could.”
Ovechkin was impressed.
“I think there was a bit of cheating,” joked the Russian. “Good for him.”
Crosby, meanwhile, took part in the NHL’s first-ever ‘splatter kick,’ in which players attempted to hit surfboard targets on a Fort Lauderdale beach, thanks to the forward of Colorado Avalanche Mikko Rantanen.
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“It was fun,” Crosby said of the delayed event. “I knew I was in trouble when Rantanen went 3-for-3 on the first three shots.
“I knew I was going to get wet.”
The Pittsburgh Penguins captain volunteered to attend the event before knowing the parameters.
“They said it was on the beach,” Crosby said with a smile. “I didn’t realize I was going to be verbally abused and soaked for 20 minutes.
“I had imagined it a little differently, but it was still fun.”
Rantanen and Avalanche teammate Cale Makar won the event against New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox and goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
Crosby and Ovechkin also conspired to complete the breakaway challenge with a little help from four-year-old son Sergei, who slid the puck past Hall of Fame goaltender and great Roberto Luongo of the Panthers. Florida.
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“Everyone enjoyed it,” Ovechkin said. “Sergei was very happy and always smiling.”
“It’s nice that his son is a part of it,” Crosby said, before adding of his retired Canadian Olympic teammate, “And to have Lu there too.” Glad to see him there.
“I thought I was done shooting him.”
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner started the breakaway challenge wearing a white suit and wraparound sunglasses in a ‘Miami Vice’ tribute, but was stopped in his playful attempt by Luongo .
Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak, wearing a Happy Gilmore jersey honoring Adam Sandler, missed his chance.
Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk and his younger brother Brady, the Ottawa Senators captain, took on Luongo with a beach theme, but Crosby and the Ovechkins won the preeminent judges.
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“Special moment,” Ovechkin said. “The fans love it. we both love it, I think it’s great for the game. It’s great for both of us.
“And of course also for Sergei.”
Suzuki won the first pitch ‘n puck event on a golf course in another tape delay event in which players shot pucks onto the green with hockey sticks before shooting a golf ball into the hole.
“Great fun,” said the Montreal Canadiens captain, who has a golf handicap of around 10. “Made a nice putt.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid won the 8-on-8 marksmanship contest, but was beaten by Calgary Flames center Nazem Kadri in the semifinals of the timed challenge.
New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson defeated Kadri in the Finals.
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“I really enjoyed it,” McDavid, who leads the NHL with 41 goals and 92 points in just 50 games this season, said of the event. “I wanted to do something to show that I can shoot the puck a bit.”
Carolina Hurricanes winger Andrei Svechnikov earned his first All-Star appearance clocking 13.699 as the fastest skater ahead of Los Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala.
Svechnikov was grateful that McDavid decided to skip the event.
“He would definitely beat me,” Svechnikov said of the three-time winner.
Canadian female stars Emily Clark, Rebecca Johnston and Sarah Nurse, along with fellow American stars Alex Carpenter and Hilary Knight were also part of the Friday action.
Nurse made the slow opening “Tendy Tandem” event a highlight with a nice one-handed breakaway against Shesterkin. Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck and Nashville’s Jusse Saros picked up the win.
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“I didn’t think about it until afterwards,” Nurse said of the defending Vezina Trophy winner’s goal.
“I just thought, ‘Attack the day.
OVECHKIN, CROSBY SURROUNDED BY MCDAVID
Ovechkin continues to go for Wayne Gretzky’s absolute 894 goal.
The 37-year-old currently sits with 32 in 52 games this season to give him 812 for his career.
But Ovechkin is also paying close attention to McDavid’s eye-popping numbers in 2022-23.
“He’s from another planet,” Ovechkin said. “It’s not a player and a year. He does it regularly – every year.
“It’s cool to see.”
Crosby is also impressed with McDavid’s 150-point pace after scoring 123 points last season.
“You just have to find a way to improve,” said the 35-year-old. “He’s dominating. He’s a year old (like 2021-22) and you’re like, ‘OK, this is going to be tough to beat.’ And then he comes this year and does the same thing and he gets better.
“He just keeps getting better… when it’s that guy, it’s scary.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 3, 2023.
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Source: theprovince.com
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