SKILLS, THRILLS AND SURPRISES
TAMPA, FLA.— Connor McDavid is again the fastest skater, while Alex Ovechkin emerged with the hardest shot as the NHL’s biggest names combined competition with laughter Saturday night at the all-star skills event. Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews was smiling when it was over, even though he finished last in the puck-control relay. “It was a little less nerve-wracking than last year,” said Matthews. “It wasn’t easy. Putting the puck through those circles threw everyone a little bit of a curveball. I thought they said they were going to simplify everything this year. They made it harder. But it was fun.” Erik Karlsson got some love when he emerged wearing a pirate hat. Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin shared a moment, each booed lustily while waving to the crowd during the introductions. Of course, the Lightning players involved got the loudest cheers — Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point, Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Also ex-Bolt (and ex-Leaf) Brian Boyle, representing the New Jersey Devils. Boyle, battling cancer, seems beloved by all his ex-fans. But they came for the skills competition most of all. The results:
FASTEST SKATER
McDavid became the first repeat winner with one lap in 13.454 seconds. He was the last of eight skaters and the only to eclipse Point, the first to go (13.579). McDavid won last year in 13.020. “There lots of fast guys in this league,” said McDavid.
PASSING ACCURACY
Blues defenceman Alex Pietrangelo won in 46.610 seconds, in what was one of the more difficult tasks. It included hitting randomly lit targers. “I’m just glad it’s done,” said Pietrangelo. The Kings’ Drew Doughty had the toughest time, taking 1:47.415 and comically taking slapshots at one target that seemed particularly elusive. He was laughing after.
SAVE STREAK
Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, facing the eight shooters of the Atlantic Division, won it with 14 shootout-style saves in a row — including two on Auston Matthews.
PUCK CONTROL
Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau powered through the four-element relay in 24.60 seconds, finishing each without a misstep. He got the puck on his blade lacrosse-style to pass it through lighted portals. The rest, including Matthews, couldn’t equal his expertise. Even Karlsson — placing the puck on the blade of his stick with his hands — had trouble passing it through the portals. Matthews finished last among eight in 44.344.
HARDEST SHOT
Ovechkin hit 98.8 m.p.h. on his first shot and 101.2 on his second — the best two of the competition featuring John Klingberg, P.K. Subban, Brent Burns and Stamkos.
ACCURATE SHOOTER
Vancouver rookie forward Brock Boeser hit the five randomly-lit targets in 11.136 seconds, easily beating veterans Anze Kopitar, Crosby and Stamkos. “It’s pretty shocking. There are so many great players,” said Boeser. “My mentality going into that was to grip it and rip it.”