ST. LOUIS, MO—The NHL brought their best players to the Arch City for the third time. In the first semi-final game the Atlantic Division got past the Metropolitan Division 9-5.
Each team went streaking in the first half on their way to eight combined goals. The Atlantic Division scored a pair early only to see the Metropolitan Division real off four-straight before the Atlantic scored their next two. Then the second half started and the Atlantic Division showed their counterparts they were taking the game into their own hands.
David Pastrnak bookended the streaks with his first goal on the game’s first shift and finished with a nifty backhand through Braden Holtby’s five-hole 8:28 into the opening frame. He would finish his hat-trick with an empty-net goal in the final minute of the game.
His teammate for the night Anthony Duclair, also picked up a trio of goals in the game. His first grabbed a lead his team would never relinquish as he threw the puck towards the net while parallel with the goal line. His second goal was in almost the same spot before an empty netter with thirty seconds remaining finished his semifinal brilliance.
Shea Weber showed off his hardest shot winning trigger when he roofed the puck at the 49-second mark of the first period. The 2-0 lead for the Atlantic was about to be short lived.
After getting their feet under themselves, the white clad Metropolitans rose to the occasion. Washington’s John Carlson put them on the board with a one-timer past Frederik Andersen.
Nico Heischier had Andersen guessing and was able to slide it to the back of the net for his first ever All Star goal. The home fans were delighted just past the half-way mark of the half when current Capitals and former Blues forward T.J. Oshie ripped a goal off from the high slot.
Seth Jones pushed the Metropolitan lead up to 4-2 as he tucked the puck just under the crossbar. That would be only time the Metro held a multiple goal lead in the game.
Lighting goalie Andre Vasilevskiy was the top goalie in the semifinal game, only allow one goal on seven shots. The starters were happy to get to the bench only making four saves each while seeing nine shots apiece.
The win was only the third in seven games in the current format for the victorious players representing the Atlantic Division. The Metropolitans saw their record fall to 4-3.
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