A Duo For the Ages: A Look Behind Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom’s MassMutual Commercial

While the Washington Capitals will be without Center Nicklas Backstrom and captain Alex Ovechkin’s status remains unknown for the team’s 2021-22 season opener on October 13, the two longtime teammates premiered, along with Ovechkin’s wife Nastya, in a new commercial for insurance company MassMutual released on Tuesday, that describes the pair’s time in Washington to a tee while promoting the company’s services.

In the commercial, titled “Duos”, which was filmed at a rental home in Arlington, Virginia, Nastya Ovechkina questions her husband on why Backstrom is on his life insurance policy. In a reference to the two’s time as line-mates and Washington’s 1-2 punch for the past 15 seasons, Ovechkin responds, “We are a duo. If something happened to me, who is Backy going to pass the puck to? His power play points might drop, how is he going to get his assists. What then?”. Backstrom then chimes in, “Yeah, what then?” while slurping a bowl of cereal.

The video ends with a shot of two framed pictures, one of Alex and Nastya, the other Ovechkin and Backstrom on the night of Backstrom’s 500th career assist; the photo of the two teammates is noticeably larger than that of the Ovechkins, with the caption “Protect the people who depend on you, on or off the ice” overlaying the shot.

The commercial pokes at the two former first-round picks (Ovechkin first overall in 2004, Backstrom fourth overall in 2006) and their time as the Capitals’ two franchise players, with Backstrom assisting on 36.8% (269 of 730) of Ovechkin’s career Goals Scored.

MassMutual was the sponsor for the now-defunct East Division that was part of a new alignment created by the NHL as part of their efforts to minimize team travel last season, which was affected by the coronavirus pandemic and of which the Capitals were a member (the Capitals will be playing as a member of the Metropolitan Division once more this season). The advertisement will play on various television networks broadcasting NHL games this season (ESPN, TNT, NHL Network).