Tkachuk delights hometown fans
SUNRISE, Fla. — The Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk was right at home in the NHL All-Star Game. Again.
The Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin had a hat trick, the Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner had three assists and the Atlantic Division topped the Central Division 7-5 in the AllStar Game final Saturday.
All-Star Game MVP Tkachuk — playing alongside his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Senators — had seven points on the day, after a five-point outburst in a semifinal victory over the Metropolitan Division. Larkin had five goals in the Atlantic’s two games.
“We wanted to get a win for the home crowd, the fans,” the Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki said. “They did a good job of cheering on the Atlantic Division. We just wanted to put on a good show for them.”
And for the MVP, winning in front of Panthers fans meant more than just winning.
“It’s been an honor to play in front of them this whole year, and it’s great that the other players in the league can see what a great place this is to play,” Matthew said. “I’m as happy as can be here.”
The Coyotes’ Clayton Keller, the Stars’ Jason Robertson and Avalanche teammates Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen all had goals for the Central in the final. Makar also had two assists.
It was the first time the Atlantic won the All-Star Game after six previous tries in the divisional format. The 11 players — nine skaters and two goalies — on the Atlantic roster split $1 million for the win.
“It was so much fun,” said Larkin, who had five goals in the two games. “I’m proud of how we won it. What a great group of guys.”
Matthew has been on the winning team in both of his All-Star appearances, and both times he enjoyed the comforts of home. He helped the Pacific win the 2020 All-Star title in St. Louis, his hometown and one of the many spots that his father — Keith Tkachuk, who was in the crowd Saturday — played during his career.
“I’ve been very fortunate, the two that I’ve been in, that I know the ins and the outs of everything that goes on away from the rink,” Matthew said. “It just made it so much more comfortable for me and extra special.”
And this one truly had homeice advantage. Matthew — the former Flames standout who picked the Panthers this offseason, despite much speculation that he would be going to the Blues — had three goals and two assists in the Atlantic’s 10-6 win over the Metropolitan in the second semifinal.
It was 3-0 Atlantic after the first half of the 20-minute final; all games under this All-Star format are 3-on-3, 20 minutes in length with a brief break after 10 minutes. The lead got to 4-0 early in the second half of the final, giving the Atlantic 10 consecutive goals; it trailed 6-4 in the semifinal before closing on a 6-0 run.
Larkin scored with 1:06 left to make it 6-2, the first of five goals in a frantic finish.
“It’s been a blast,” said Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who scored for the Atlantic with 36 seconds left to make it 7-3. “I met a lot of great people.”