Connor McDavid owned the NHL’s all-star expertise competitors Friday.
Auston Matthews earned high billing lower than 24 hours later.
The Toronto Maple Leafs star led Staff Matthews with two targets — together with the winner — and an help to safe a 7-4 victory over Staff McDavid within the closing of the league’s 3-on-3 all-star mini event Saturday.
The winners will share a US$1-million prize. Matthews was additionally named because the MVP.
McDavid, the Edmonton Oilers captain, claimed the revamped expertise competitors the earlier evening to safe that $1-million purse at Scotiabank Area.
Staff McDavid erased a late two-goal deficit within the semifinal earlier Saturday earlier than beating Staff MacKinnon 4-3 in a shootout.
Staff Matthews, in the meantime, gained its opener 6-5 over Staff Hughes in one other shootout.
Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, sporting a vibrant puffer coat, served as superstar captain for Staff Matthews, whereas Canadian-born actor Will Arnett had the identical function for Staff McDavid
All-star festivities had been expanded to a few days this 12 months with the return of the participant draft and a 3-on-3 Skilled Girls’s Hockey League recreation.
The league used a participant draft on the all-star recreation for a two-team format in 2011, 2012 and 2015 earlier than going to a division-based setup in 2016.
Maple Leaf Gardens hosted the primary all-star recreation 90 years in the past as a profit fundraiser after Toronto ahead Ace Bailey suffered a career-ending harm.
The NHL’s first official all-star showcase was held in the identical constructing in 1947 that includes the Stanley Cup-winning Leafs.
The 2024 occasion marked the ninth time Toronto has hosted host NHL all-star actions, and the primary since 2000.
DEADLINE TALK
Nathan MacKinnon was requested concerning the Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets loading up within the west by buying centres Elias Lindholm and Sean Monahan, respectively, in current days.
“It’s wide-open,” stated the Colorado Avalanche centre. “Hockey’s such an excellent sport proper now with the parity. Groups are undoubtedly making some strikes.”
MacKinnon added he’d be in favour of pushing the commerce deadline date up. This 12 months’s cutoff is about for March 8.
“When it comes to simply hockey, I feel a bit longer can be good,” he stated. “That’s why a whole lot of the occasions these deadline strikes don’t at all times work.”
GETTING FAMILIAR
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, who was behind the bench for Staff Hughes, stated having Lindholm in Toronto for the all-star festivities after the commerce with Calgary will likely be useful shifting ahead.
“As an alternative of seeing him (Sunday) in Carolina, I’ve seen within the final three days, received to know him,” Tocchet stated. “Met his household, met his fiancée, his dad. I feel that goes a great distance in making him perceive how group will care for him, acclimate him a bit bit to our crew.
“These three days and being on this setting — extra of a enjoyable setting — I feel it’s helped.”
ARNETT IMPRESSED
Arnett was requested earlier than the puck dropped what it’s been like being up shut with the squad’s namesake this week.
“He’s tremendous sharp,” stated the Toronto-born actor. “We all know what he can do on the ice. It’s unparralled, actually, what he does … simply so exceptionally gifted.
“However he’s additionally a grounded man.”
