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Alex Ovechkin, Wayne Gretzky to face off in NHL 20 charity fundraiser

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We’ll finally get an Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky showdown, but unfortunately it will only happen on digital ice.

The NHL’s two greatest goal scorers will face off in an EA Sports NHL 20 showdown to benefit the Edmonton Food Bank and Monumental Sports and Entertainment Foundation’s “Feeding the Frontlines” fund, which provides meals to those in the medical community. Fans can make donations during the best-of-three event, which will take place on April 22 at 8 p.m. ET on the Capitals’ Twitch channel.

Both Gretzky and Ovechkin will have a partner in the event. Gretzky will pair up with his 19-year-old son, Tristan, while Ovechkin will be teamed with John “JohnWayne” Casagranda, who in November became the first esports professional to sign with an NHL team when he joined MSE’s gaming arm, Caps Gaming.

In an interview with The Washington Post, The Great One said he got the idea for the challenge after seeing an Instagram video of Ovechkin playing the game as his son, Sergei, sat on his lap.

“There’s been so much talk about the goal record, so there’s a nice link between Alex and myself,” Gretzky told the Post. “I thought we could do something that people could watch and help raise money for those who need it.”

Before their video game challenge, Gretzky and Ovechkin will appear together on the next episode of #HockeyAtHome, airing Monday at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN. The pair will discuss their goal scoring exploits with NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen.

MORE:
Can Alex Ovechkin break Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894 goals?

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Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.