Screencap: @aidan_morgan99

Friday’s “Breakaway Challenge” during the 2022 NHL SuperSkills Competition at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas became quite interesting, especially for Washington Capitals fans. Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov did a tribute to Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin.

Kaprizov removed his Wild jersey, revealing an All-Star-themed Ovechkin jersey. He also replicated Ovechkin’s notable Gatorade bottle routine prior to the challenge.

everything about this was gr8 pic.twitter.com/BrP0UdET3J

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 5, 2022

Kaprizov even did Ovechkin’s “hot stick celly” following the shot.

Kirill Kaprizov tribute to Ovechkin, including his celly pic.twitter.com/lC8Ka12Kga

— Aidan Morgan (@aidan_morgan99) February 5, 2022

Ovechkin responded to Kaprizov’s impersonation:

Not bad!!! :))))) https://t.co/QjP5g3SFaf

— Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) February 5, 2022

Kaprizov had nothing but nice things to say about his fellow countrymen during today’s media availability.  “I love how skilled he is…how well he thinks about the game,” Kirill said on Kuznetsov.

Also noteworthy—he named his cat “Kuzy” after Kuznetsov and watched him, Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov, and St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko play in World Juniors.

By Della Young