LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Metropolitan Division is the winner of the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game. Forward Wayne Simmonds of the Philadelphia Flyers was named Most Valuable Player. Simmonds scored three goals for the day, helping his division to the win.
Auston Matthews (34) greets Wayne Gretzky (99) and other members of the NHL’s100 Greatest Players during player introductions – Photo by Jack Lima
The series was played in a tournament style. Each match included two ten-minute halves, and were played in a three-on-three format. The initial matchups were decided based upon the team winner from the Skills Competition on Saturday, when the Atlantic Division won and choose to face the Metropolitan division in the second game, leaving the Pacific and Central Division to play the first match.
The players on each team were as follows:
Pacific Division:
F Jeff Carter (LAK)
F Johnny Gaudreau (CGY)
F Bo Horvat (VAN)
F Ryan Kesler (ANA)
F Connor McDavid (EDM)
F Joe Pavelski (SJS)
D Brent Burns (SJS)
D Drew Doughty (LAK)
D Cam Fowler (ANA)
G Martin Jones (SJS)
G Mike Smith (ARI)
Captain: Connor McDavid
Head Coach: Peter DeBoer (SJS)
Pacific Division All-Stars – Photo by Jack Lima
Central Division:
F Patrick Kane (CHI)
F Patrik Laine (WPG)
F Nathan MacKinnon (COL)
F Tyler Seguin (DAL)
F Vladimir Tarasenko (STL)
F Jonathan Toews (CHI)
D Duncan Keith (CHI)
D P.K. Subban (NSH)
D Ryan Suter (MIN)
G Corey Crawford (CHI)
G Devan Dubnyk (MIN)
Captain: P.K. Subban
Head Coach: Bruce Boudreau (MIN)
Central Division All-Stars – Photo by Jack Lima
Atlantic Division:
F Nikita Kucherov (TBL)
F Brad Marchand (BOS)
F Auston Matthews (TOR)
F Frans Nielsen (DET)
F Kyle Okposo (BUF)
F Vincent Trocheck (FLA)
D Victor Hedman (TBL)
D Erik Karlsson (OTT)
D Shea Weber (MTL)
G Carey Price (MTL)
G Tuukka Rask (BOS)
Captain: Carey Price
Head Coach: Michel Therrien (MTL)
Atlantic Division All-Stars – Photo by Jack Lima
Metropolitan Division:
F Sidney Crosby (PIT)
F Taylor Hall (NJD)
F Cam Atkinson (CBJ)
F Alex Ovechkin (WSH)
F Wayne Simmonds (PHI)
F John Tavares (NYI)
D Justin Faulk (CAR)
D Seth Jones (CBJ)
D Ryan McDonagh (NYR)
G Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ)
G Braden Holtby (WSH)
Captain: Sidney Crosby
Head Coach: Wayne Gretzky (replacing John
Tortorella, CBJ)
Metropolitan Division All-Stars – Photo by Jack Lima
The Pacific Division eliminated the Central, with a 10-3 win, thanks to goals by Fowler, Carter, McDavid, Burns, Doughty, Pavelski, Kessler, Horvat, and Gaudreau scored the first and last goal of the match. Tarasenko, Subban and Toews each scored for the Central division.
The Atlantic division was eliminated by the Metropolitan division, with a final score of 10-6. Goals for Atlantic were Kucherov (2 goals), Hedman, Karlsson, Matthews, and Trocheck. The players from Metropolitan division that scored were Simmonds (2 goals), Tavares (2 goals), Crosby, Atkinson (2 goals), Hall, Ovechkin and Seth Jones.
In the final match between the Pacific and Metropolitan division, Pavelski led off the scoring early in the first half. S. Jones scored stick side against Martin Jones in the net. Faulk was able to tuck the puck under M. Jones. McDavid took the puck and raced towards the net, faked a shot, then broke left to drop the puck behind Bobrovsky. The half ended when Gaudreau took the puck behind the net, then passed it to a waiting Horvat for the goal.
In the second half of the match, Atkinson and Simmons both scored a goal, giving the Metropolitan the go-ahead goal and ultimate winner.
Pacific Divisions’ goalie Martin Jones makes a blocker save – Photo by Jack Lima
Pacific Divisions’ Drew Doughty (8) scores past Central Divisions’ goalie Corey Crawford – Photo by Jack Lima
Pacific Divisions’ Connor McDavid (97) shoots the puck past a diving Sergei Bobrovsky – Photo by Jack Lima
Pacific Divisions’ Connor McDavid (97) scores past Central Divisions’ goalie Devan Dubnyk – Photo by Jack Lima
Metropolitan Divisions’ Taylor Hall looks to make a pass – Photo by Jack Lima
Metropolitan Divisions’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky makes a stop on a shot by Brent Burns (88) – Photo by Jack Lima
Metropolitan Divisions’ goalie Braden Holtby robes Brad Marchand (63) – Photo by Jack Lima)
Metropolitan Divisions’ coach Wayne Gretzky – Photo by Jack Lima
Metropolitan Divisions’ Cam Atkinson (13) scores past Pacific Divisions’ goalie Mike Smith as Johnny Gaudreau (13) looks to defend – Photo by Jack Lima
Goalie Devan Dubnyk drives to try to stop Joe Pavelski’s (8) goal – Photo by Jack Lima
Erik Karlsson (65) fires a shot past Metropolitan Divisions’ goalie Sergei Bobrovsky – Photo by Jack Lima
Atlantic Divisions’ Vincent Trocheck makes a pass
Alex Ovechkin skates up ice to try to catch up with the play – Photo by Jack Lima
All-Star MVP Wayne Simmons (17) scores past Atlantic Division goalie Carey Price – Photo by Jack Lima
With MVP honors, Wayne Simmonds was awarded a 2017 Honda Ridgeline truck. Simmonds made his all-star debut this year.
Here are a few stats from today’s game:
BEST TWO-GAME TOTALS
Most Goals
3 – Wayne Simmonds (Metropolitan)
3 – Cam Atkinson (Metropolitan)
Most Assists
4 – Justin Faulk (Metropolitan)
Most Points
5 – Cam Atkinson (Metropolitan) 3-2–5
5 – John Tavares (Metropolitan) 2-3–5
5 – Justin Faulk (Metropolitan) 1-4—5
BEST SINGLE-GAME TOTALS
Most Goals
2 – Johnny Gaudreau (Pacific) vs. Central in SF
2 – Cam Atkinson (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF
2 – Wayne Simmonds (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF
2 – John Tavares (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF
2 – Nikita Kucherov (Atlantic) vs. Metropolitan in SF
Most Assists
3 – Cam Fowler (Pacific) vs. Central in SF
3 – Justin Faulk (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF
3 – Vincent Trocheck (Atlantic) vs. Metropolitan in SF
Most Points
4 – Cam Atkinson (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF (2-2–4)
4 – John Tavares (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF (2-2–4)
4 – Nikita Kucherov (Atlantic) vs. Metropolitan in SF (2-2–4)
4 – Cam Fowler (Pacific) vs. Central in SF (1-3–4)
4 – Vincent Trocheck (Atlantic) vs. Metropolitan in SF (1-3–4)
Fewest Goals Against
0 – Braden Holtby (Metropolitan) vs. Pacific in Final (5 shots)
Most Saves
12 – Braden Holtby (Metropolitan) vs. Atlantic in SF (15 shots)
The Metropolitan division was coached by Wayne Gretzky. Simmons spoke about the opportunity to play under him.
“Yeah, it’s pretty special. Obviously I think for me anyway, Wayne Gretzky is the greatest player to ever play this game. To get a chance to play for him was an honor. It was just a great situation to be in, and I’m just really happy right now.”
When asked how it felt to be an all-star, Simmonds said it was weird. “It’s awesome. It’s definitely an honor. There’s so many great players in our game today, to be recognized as an All-Star is pretty special to me.”
Unfortunately, the female performers, Fifth Harmony had a member suddenly become sick, forcing a member of the Kings daily game crew to stand-in to sing the United States National Anthem. Nick Jonas performed a few medleys during the intermission before the final matchup.
Pop star Nick Jonas performs during intermission – Photo by Jack Lima
Brent Burns (L) and Johnny Gaudreau watch the Nick Jonas performance during intermission – Photo by Jack Lima
Metropolitan Division All-Stars’ receive a check for one million dollars for winning the All-Star game competition – Photo by Jack Lima
Wayne Simmons (17) accepts his All-Star game MVP award – Photo by Jack Lima
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