Gretzky flexes coaching muscle for All-Star champions

It's been eight years since Wayne Gretzky called the shots as an NHL head coach, but after a legendary performance for the All-Star champion Metropolitan Division, The Great One made it clear he still knows his way around a bench.

Though the 3-on-3 final was brimming with superstar talent - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin on one side of the sheet, Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau on the other - it was No. 99 who stole the show.

The wily veteran wasn't afraid to use all the tools in his arsenal, most notably in the second half when he threw down a successful coach's challenge to cancel out a goal from Ryan Kesler, keeping his team's one-goal deficit from doubling.

Gretzky made little effort to hide his feelings about his perfect career coach's challenge record, which now stands at a sterling 1-for-1.

Gretzky with the challenge! #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/VV6UQr86wo

- Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 29, 2017

The Hall of Famer's astute play wound up being a key turning point in the tilt - and perhaps the rousing call his squad needed, as they answered by putting up a two-spot to come back and take the All-Star crown.

Lesson learned: You miss 100 percent of the challenges you don't take.

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