Alexander Ovechkin scored two early goals in last night’s NHL All Star game. He also won the event’s first ever Breakaway Challenge on Saturday with a move that nobody had ever tried in public before. As you can see above, he flipped the puck high in the air, spun around in a circle and then batted the falling puck like a baseball. Chris Osgood easily stopped the absurd shot, but the event was judged on style points, and nobody else went airborne.

Also on Sunday, Nicklas Backstrom scored two goals in the Young Stars game. Backstrom is second among rookies in points, and could challenge for rookie of the year. Ovechkin leads the league in goals and is an early favorite for most valuable player. The Capitals have had just three draft choices in the top five in this decade, so it’s exciting to see that two of them have yielded players who can compete with the best. Karl Alzner, the third, is currently the captain of the Canadian World Junior team.

Last week we happily reported that the Caps had also reacquired center Kris Beech on waivers–a player they once picked seventh overall. This week we regret to inform you that Beech has been placed on waivers once again. The Caps were apparently hoping to send him to Hershey, but Beech has been claimed by the Pittsburgh Penguins, another team he has already played for. The Penguins are missing center Sidney Crosby to a high ankle sprain, and may give Beech the overdue shot at the big time we thought he was about to get in Washington.