Team Matthews beats Team McDavid in NHL All-Star final
The Maple Leafs-heavy Team Matthews put on a show for the Toronto crowd on Saturday, beating Team McDavid to win the NHL All-Star final 7-4.
Former U.S. National Team Development Program teammates Auston Matthews and Clayton Keller had their chemistry on full display, combining for six points in the contest.
Matthews had two goals and an assist, including the game-winner - a top-shelf one-timer off Keller's feed with 5:01 left in the game. Keller had a goal and two helpers.
The trio of Mathew Barzal, Alex DeBrincat, and Filip Forsberg were also electric. Barzal and DeBrincat each tallied a goal and two assists, while Forsberg scored once and added a helper.
Goalies Igor Shesterkin and Jake Oettinger stopped 15 of 19 shots in the winning effort. Shesterkin notably stretched out twice to rob odd-man rush efforts in the first period.
As for Matthews' fellow Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner scored, while William Nylander and Morgan Rielly each secured an assist in the final.
Team Matthews edges Team Hughes in Semfinal 2
In the second game, Alex DeBrincat scored a pair of goals and then the eventual shootout winner as Team Matthews defeated Team Hughes to earn a berth in the final.
Igor Shesterkin denied J.T. Miller to secure the victory.
Filip Forsberg scored his second goal in under four minutes to tie the game 5-5 with under two minutes to go in regulation to force the second shootout of the day.
Nikita Kucherov opened the scoring just over a minute in after giving a lackluster effort in the Skills Competition on Friday. The Tampa Bay Lightning winger was later stopped in the shootout to the delight of the Toronto crowd, but he waved to the fans after his attempt just as he did amid his struggles one night earlier.
Team McDavid rallies to beat Team MacKinnon in Semifinal 1
In the first matchup, Team McDavid defeated Team MacKinnon 4-3 in a shootout to advance to the final.
David Pastrnak and Connor McDavid scored in the last minute as Team McDavid overcame a 3-1 deficit late in the second 10-minute period. Pastrnak netted the decisive goal in the shootout.
Team captain Nathan MacKinnon scored the opening goal and added a beauty backhander later in the contest. Oliver Bjorkstrand also tallied a goal for Team MacKinnon.
Boone Jenner found the back of the net for Team McDavid in the first period.
Team McDavid's Connor Hellebuyck and Sergei Bobrovsky combined for 18 saves. Alexandar Georgiev and Jeremy Swayman also made 18 stops for Team MacKinnon.