Ovechkin will defend a breakaway challenge title

 By Adam Kimelman, Jan. 13, 2009:

Ovechkin will bring his magic bag of breakaway tricks to the 2009 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge as part of the 2009 Honda/NHL All-Star SuperSkills Competition in Montreal on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Bell Centre.



Some of the NHL's best have signed on to try to take the title away from him. Anaheim's Ryan Getzlaf, who Ovechkin topped in last year's final, returns for another shot. Joining him will be the Penguins' Sidney Crosby, who's been known to score a highlight goal or two in his time in the League, plus the hometown favorite, the Canadiens' Alex Kovalev, and Chicago super soph Patrick Kane..

"I want to defend this title," said Ovechkin. "It's a pretty cool title. I'm happy I have it."

Each shooter will get one minute to work his magic and wow the Bell Centre crowd and viewers around North America (7 p.m. ET, RDS, CBC, VERSUS). Upon taking possession of the puck, a shooter can go anywhere he wants in the offensive zone and make as many attempts as he desires within that minute to complete a routine that ends with a shot at the net. When each shooter has taken his turn, the polls will open and the fans will have their say.

Crosby, Getzlaf, Kovalev and Kane already are working on their routines and wracking their brains to come up with moves neither their competitors nor their fans have seen. They’ve allowed NHL cameras to capture glimpses of their preparations, but are planning to pull off some surprises, especially Ovechkin.

Recently during a video shoot following his practicing for the event, Ovechkin threw down the gauntlet for anyone trying to take his title.

“Right now, I’m going to show you my old trick,” Ovechkin said before performing the puck-flipping, spin-o-rama swat that won last year's competition. “But I have one more trick that probably I don’t want to show you right now. You’ll have to wait for the All-Star Game.”