Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin have played dozens of regular-season and playoff games against each other since breaking into the NHL together in 2005.

The longtime rivals and respective captains of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals have also shared the ice at All-Star Games before. But with each superstar in his mid-30s, they know this trip could be their last together.

They took advantage of it, with Ovechkin setting up Crosby for two goals Saturday in the lone game of the their Metropolitan Division team got to play.

B次元官网网址淚 think we have fun to play together, not against each other,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said, flashing his gap-toothed smile. B次元官网网址淩ight now, we was on the same team, and it was pretty special, pretty good moment.B次元官网网址�

Crosby, who also had the secondary assist on OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 goal, did not expect to get the puck back. ThatB次元官网网址檚 not unreasonable given Ovechkin has built a career on scoring and is only 82 goals back of Wayne GretzkyB次元官网网址檚 NHL career record.

B次元官网网址淚 was thinking I just did my job: gave it to him,B次元官网网址� said Crosby, whose career numbers are so close to OvechkinB次元官网网址檚 that he has just five more points overall. B次元官网网址淚 thought he was just going finish it, but he was kind enough to send me a couple back. We had some nice goals there.B次元官网网址�

Not enough to win the 3-on-3 semifinal against the Atlantic, which beat the Central in the final. Ovechkin lamented not scoring more and took some jabs at his goalie teammates for a day: fellow Russians Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers and Ilya Sorokin of the Islanders.

B次元官网网址淥bviously goalie could play better,B次元官网网址� Ovechkin said.

Crosby and Ovechkin being together at All-Star weekend for the first time since 2018 was one of the themes of the weekend, given how they shared the stage as faces of the NHL for much of their careers. But they donB次元官网网址檛 want this to be a Sid and Ovi swan song and could do this again as soon as next year when the .

B次元官网网址淵ou try to go out there have fun and stay in the moment,B次元官网网址� Crosby said. B次元官网网址淗opefully, itB次元官网网址檚 not our last one. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the best way to approach it.B次元官网网址�

HOMETOWN HEROICS

The introductions for Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk were saved for last.

And of course, the two Florida Panthers stars, representing the Atlantic Division, delivered in their home arena.

B次元官网网址淲e play regular-season and playoff games here, but with this event, itB次元官网网址檚 even more special to be here representing the Florida Panthers,B次元官网网址� Barkov said.

Tkachuk was clearly comfortable playing in the same arena where has amassed 66 points (sixth in the NHL) this season with the Panthers. He was named All-Star MVP after his seven points (four goals, three assists) Saturday, including a goal and an assist in the Atlantic DivisionB次元官网网址檚 7-5 win over the Central Division to take the All-Star game title.

B次元官网网址淭o be honest, I really didnB次元官网网址檛 care about anything other than just representing my team,B次元官网网址� Tkachuk said, B次元官网网址渁nd itB次元官网网址檚 a big honor to be one of the representatives, along with Barky, to be the host city. Without everybody saying it, it kind of revolves around us a little bit with having the home crowd on our side and doing the big skills and starting the game having the fans basically just cheering for us.B次元官网网址�

Tkachuk had a hat trick and a pair of assists in the Atlantic squadB次元官网网址檚 semifinal game against the Metropolitan division B次元官网网址� tying a single-game points record for the 3-on-3 All-Star format. Two of those goals were assisted by his Panthers teammate to give their squad a win 10-6 and advance to face the Central division the final.

By the time Barkov and Tkachuk came out for the All-Star game final, B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 go Panthers!B次元官网网址� cheers were being belted throughout FLA Live Arena.

Barkov, the beloved Panther in his 10th season, has 14 goals this year and 33 assists. He has 234 career goals and 600 points.

BROTHERLY LOVE

Brothers Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk have played against each other plenty over the years. But with both players starting for the Atlantic division, they got to experience playing together as the 11th set of brothers to be All-Star teammates.

The brothers each had a goal in SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 semifinal game between the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions. And Brady assisted on his brotherB次元官网网址檚 goal in the final against the Central division.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e always dreamt of playing with each other one way or the other,B次元官网网址� Matthew Tkachuk said. B次元官网网址淲e thought that the best chance would be a Team USA thing at one point because I was in the West forever and he was in the Atlantic, so we never really thought this was a possibility.B次元官网网址�

Matthew, drafted in 2016 by the Calgary Flames, is a two-time All-Star with 177 career goals and 448 points.

Brady, the younger Tkachuk sibling, was drafted in 2018 by the Ottawa Senators and has 110 career goals and 243 points.

Both were All-Stars back in 2020 in their hometown St. Louis. Brady represented the Atlantic division, while Matthew represented the Pacific squad.

WEATHER WOES

It was 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius) outside FLA Live Arena when the All-Star 3 on-3 tournament started B次元官网网址� more than 50 degrees warmer than 2024 host Toronto. That doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean this yearB次元官网网址檚 event didnB次元官网网址檛 have a weather issue.

The NHL All-Star Beach Festival B次元官网网址� which had areas where fans could test their hockey skills, get a photo with the Stanley Cup and check out a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, among other things B次元官网网址� couldnB次元官网网址檛 open on Saturday.

Rain in the morning delayed the opening on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and then 40 mph (64 kilometers per hour) wind gusts later in the day forced the NHL into keeping it closed and calling off a watch party for the All-Star Game.

It was open Thursday and Friday.

Alanis Thames And Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press

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