> ALL-STAR AUSTON
Only Leaf picked for NHL’s mid-season showcase loaded with Lightning standouts
While the case could be made for more Leafs, centre Auston
Matthews was the only one selected to take part in this month’s NHL all-star weekend in Tampa.
Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews was named to the NHL all-star game for the second year in a row on Wednesday.
Matthews, leading the club in scoring heading into Wednesday night’s home date with the Ottawa Senators, was the only Leaf selected for the mid-season showcase, set for Jan. 27 and 28 in Tampa.
Last year, when the event was held in Los Angeles, Matthews called it an “unbelievable” experience rubbing elbows with the NHL’s best while just a rookie himself. He fit in just fine, scoring once for the Atlantic Division in the three-on-three format, but was outdueled by Penguins star Sidney Crosby in the skills competition.
Matthews will be joined by a pair of former USA Hockey teammates: Jack Eichel of the Buffalo Sabres and Noah Hanifin of the Carolina Hurricanes, each selected for the first time.
Fans elected Tampa’s Steven Stamkos (Atlantic), Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan), Nashville’s P.K. Subban (Central) and Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (Pacific) as the captains.
The two Eastern and Western Conference teams will play each other in the semifinals, of the three-on-three tournament with the winners facing off for $1 million U.S.
“I kind of felt like it was not super intense the last time when we were doing it,” said Arizona Coyotes allstar defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who will be making his second appearance but his first with the three-on-three format. “I watched this past year and it seemed like everybody was skating hard and was playing really hard.”
The league-leading Lightning’s top performers will be on full display when the city hosts all-star weekend. Top scorer Nikita Kucherov, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and defenceman Victor Hedman will join Stamkos for the skills competition and three-on-three tournament. Kucherov has the most points in the league and Vasilevskiy the most vic- tories in leading the Lightning to an NHL-best 65 points so far this season.
“It’s going to be a great showcase of a hockey city,” Stamkos told The Associated Press. “To be able to share that moment with them is going to be special, especially in front of our home fans who greatly deserve something like this and I’m sure we’ll put on a great show.”
With four players on the Atlantic Division team, Tampa Bay has the most representation for the showcase event. The Los Angeles Kings will send three players to Tampa: centre Anze Kopitar, defenceman Drew Doughty and goalie Jonathan Quick. The league announced the full all-star rosters on Wednesday as selected by the NHL’s hockey operations department.
Crosby and Kris Letang of the defending champion Penguins were added to the Metropolitan Division team that also includes Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin and goalie Braden Holtby. New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was selected to his fourth all-star weekend, and Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov will head to his first.
“Sasha has earned the right to be counted among the league’s elite,” Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said.
The surprise Vegas Golden Knights had two players selected: goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and winger James Neal. The expansion franchise is atop the Pacific Division with the most success so far of any NHL team in its inaugural season.
McDavid, last season’s Hart Trophy winner, is also on the Pacific Division roster along with Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau, who will appear in his fourth game in as many seasons.
Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne earned his third all-star spot, all since 2015, and joins Subban on the Central Division team.
Montreal goaltender Carey Price was selected for the sixth time in his career. He’ll be joined on the Atlantic team by Matthews and Ottawa defenceman Erik Karlsson.