MOSCOW — It would be hard to imagine a more perfect birthday for Vladimir V. Putin, the president of Russia, who turned 63 on Wednesday.

After receiving a report from his defense minister that Russia had launched a major cruise missile strike on Syria — a move further confounding American policy in the Middle East — Mr. Putin celebrated his birthday by playing a game of hockey with N.H.L. veterans, and winning.

Donning skates and a uniform, Mr. Putin took to the ice in the Shayba Arena in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as a member of a team called Stars of the N.H.L., which included, among other hockey legends, Pavel Bure, known as the Russian Rocket.

The game was broadcast live on national television as the highlight of a day of adoring homages to the Russian leader.