The 2019 NHL All-Star Skills Competition took place on Friday night where the game’s brightest and best stars showed off their amazing talents and had fun with the players they normally compete against.
The players participated in six categories highlighting the specific skills necessary to play the fastest game on ice. The winner of each event earned $25,000.
McDavid three-peats in Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater
Edmonton Oilers’ superstar Connor McDavid won the fastest skater event for the third consecutive year.
Skating last, McDavid completed his lap around the rink in 13.378 seconds, defeating Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (13.582) by .204 seconds.
“It’s fun,” McDavid said of making history. “It’s always a fun event to participate in. You get to go as fast as you can. Some guys like doing it, some guys don’t. Personally, I like doing it and it’s always fun.”
McDavid said he was inspired watching Kendall Coyne Schofield, a forward for the U.S. Women’s National Team, begin the event with a time of 14.346. Coyne Schofield replaced injured Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (bruised foot) and became the first woman to compete in the NHL All-Star Skills, finishing seventh.
[protected-iframe id=”a63d60743df5b2468281ac971dc7c2d5-142507471-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/coyne-schofield-posts-speedy-lap/t-277350912/c-65356803?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]“When she took off I was like, ‘Wow!’ I thought she might have won, the way she was moving. She was a really good skater and it’s an amazing thing for the game when they can see her participate like that in an event like this.”
[protected-iframe id=”d669cba130545e5ea9c966045a805a05-142507471-46289989″ info=”https://www.nhl.com/video/embed/mcdavid-wins-fastest-skater/t-277350912/c-65357103?autostart=false” width=”540″ height=”360″]Results
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 13.378 seconds
Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres, 13.582
Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders, 13.780
Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars, 13.914
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks, 13.930
Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets, 14.152
Kendall Coyne Schofield, U.S. Women’s National Team, 14.346
Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes, 14.526
King Henrik wins the Ticketmaster NHL Save Streak crown
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist won the Save Streak event as he made a save on Toronto Maple Leafs center John Tavares, his ninth in a row, The King made 12 in a row to beat Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy who’s eight-save streak placed him second.
“You’ve got to do a little extra, try to show some emotions out there,” Lundqvist said. “I think it’s fine to give it for the fans too and enjoy that moment. At the same time, when it comes down to it, of course, you want to compete and try to make the most of it.”
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Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
vs. Pacific Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings: Save (1)
2. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks: Save (2)
3. Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes: Goal
4. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames: Save (1)
5. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers: Save (2)
6. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks: Goal
7. Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks: Save (1)
8. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks: Save (2)
9. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: Goal
Longest Save Streak: 2
Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
vs. Metropolitan Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets: Save (1), Goal
2. Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets: Save (2)
3. Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders: Save (3)
4. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes: Save (4)
5. Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils: Save (5)
6. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers: Save (6)
7. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins: Save (7)
8. John Carlson, Washington Capitals: Save (8)
Longest Save Streak: 8
John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
vs. Central Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars: Goal, Save (3)
2. Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets: Save (1), Goal
3. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets: Save (2)
4. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators: Goal
5. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks: Save (1)
6. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues: Goal
7. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche: Save (1)
8. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche: Save (2)
Longest Save Streak: 3
Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
vs. Atlantic Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Keith Yandle, Florida Panthers: Save (1)
2. Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres: Goal
3. Jeff Skinner, Buffalo Sabres: Save (1)
4. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators: Goal
5. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs: Save (1)
6. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning: Save (2)
7. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Goal
8. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins: Save (1)
9. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs: Goal
Longest Save Streak: 2
Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota Wild
vs. Pacific Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings: Save (1), Save (4)
2. Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks: Save (2), Save (5)
3. Clayton Keller, Arizona Coyotes: Save (3), Save (6)
4. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames: Save (4), Save (7)
5. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers: Goal, Goal
6. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks: Goal
7. Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks: Save (1)
8. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks: Save (2)
9. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers: Save (3)
Longest Save Streak: 7
Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings
vs. Metropolitan Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets: Goal, Goal
2. Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets: Save (1)
3. Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders: Goal
4. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes: Save (1)
5. Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils: Save (2)
6. Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers: Goal
7. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins: Save (1)
8. John Carlson, Washington Capitals: Save (2)
Longest Save Streak: 2
Marc-Andre Fleury, Vegas Golden Knights
vs. Central Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars: Goal, Save (6)
2. Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets: Save (1), Goal
3. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets: Goal
4. Roman Josi, Nashville Predators: Save (1)
5. Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks: Save (2)
6. Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues: Save (3)
7. Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche: Save (4)
8. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche: Save (5)
Longest Save Streak: 6
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
vs. Atlantic Division Shooters (Goal or Save)
1. Keith Yandle, Florida Panthers: Save (1), Save (2), Save (11)
2. Jack Eichel, Buffalo Sabres: Save (2), Save (3), Save (12)
3. Jeff Skinner, Buffalo Sabres: Save (1), Save (4), Goal
4. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators: Save (2), Save (5)
5. Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning: Save (3), Save (6)
6. David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins: Save (4), Save (7)
7. Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning: Goal, Save (8)
8. John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs: Save (1), Save (9)
9. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs: Goal*, Save (10)
* Matthews shot third during first round
Longest Save Streak: 12
Winner: Lundqvist (12 saves)
Johnny Hockey wins Gatorade NHL Puck Control for the second straight year
Calgary Flames’ forward Johnny Gaudreau beat the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane to win the event for the second straight year, finishing in 27.045 seconds to 28.611 for Kane, the runner-up.
“When I was in college and juniors and stuff, [Kane] was a player that I was looking up to and watching,” Gaudreau said. “When he was winning Stanley Cups, I was in college watching. He’s a player I’ve tried to emulate my game after.”
“It’s great to see a ton of smaller, fast, skilled guys,” the diminutive Gaudreau said. “Hopefully we can keep paving the way for younger kids. Hopefully, they realize you don’t have to be a giant to play in this League. You gotta be able to see and read the ice well. There’s a future here in the NHL for those little guys.”
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Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames, 27.045 seconds
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks, 28.611
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers, 30.270
Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets, 32.161
Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche, 33.245
John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs, 35.210
Jeff Skinner, Buffalo Sabres, 35.407
Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks, 43.622
Pastrnak wins Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting
The Bruins’ David Pastrnak won the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting event hitting five targets in 11.309 seconds, besting Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, who had a time of 12.693 seconds. The victory cost him though.
Pastrnak went out to dinner Thursday with New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal and the two players agreed to evenly split whatever prize money each won. Pastrnak won $25,000 for his victory and Barzal finished third in his only event, the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater.
The shooters had a lot of fun as their faces adorned each target.
“That hurt when it hit my face, to be honest,” Pastrnak said. “I could feel it every time I got hit by the other guys.”
Although Pastrnak, the first shooter, posted the time to beat, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, who finished last with a time of 31.256, stole the show when he peeled off his jersey to reveals a Maple Leafs All-Star jersey with “Marleau” on the nameplate.
The crowd went wild over the tribute to Patrick Marleau, who played with the Sharks from 1997-2017 before signing as a free agent with Toronto on July 2, 2017.
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David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins, 11.309 seconds
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins, 12.693
Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings, 13.591
Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks, 14.423
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets, 18.585
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, 19.706
Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey Devils, 20.209
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs, 31.256
Draisaitl takes Enterprise NHL Premier Passer title
The Edmonton Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl won the event with a time of 1:09.088. Carolina Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho finished second with a time of 1:18.530.
“That’s what I’m most comfortable doing is passing the puck,” Draisaitl said. “Without pumping my own tires too much, I would consider that my strength and something I rely on.”
The passing event consisted of three skills over one round, including a breakout pass, where each player was given 10 pucks to attempt to make a pass to three “players”; mini nets, where each player attempted to complete a pass over a barricade and into each of four mini nets; and target passing, where each player attempted to complete successful passes to all targets that randomly lit up every three seconds.
“It was a lot of fun getting to meet players you usually battle against and have tough battles with,” Draisaitl said. “Guys that maybe get under your skin at times in games and you maybe get under their skin. … Guys like [Calgary Flames forward] Johnny Gaudreau, I talked to him a little bit, and that’s obviously a battle. They’re all amazing guys and it was a great day.”
The person who had the best time wasn’t Draisaitl, wasn’t an NHL player and wasn’t male. Team USA Olympic gold medallist and Calgary Inferno forward Brianna Decker made short work of the course in the explanatory demonstration before the event commenced. No official time was recorded, but some fan research on social media later had her at 1:06, three seconds quicker than Draisaitl.
“Karlsson went after me, so I was like, ‘OK, I think I might have beaten him,’ but I didn’t know how long it took me,” Decker said. “I was just casually going through the demo. That passing was pretty tough. But I had no idea, actually.”
BRIANNA DECKER IS A GODDESS
Here’s her absolutely KILLING it!!! #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/e4Z8povq85
— Abby (@ArrowsandDemons) January 26, 2019
“She beat me?” Draisaitl said, previously unaware of the news. “Wow. That is impressive. That’s really impressive. Good for her.”
Decker’s sponsor, CCM paid her $25,000, the amount that she would have earned for her first place time had she been deemed a participant.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmf8T9_EujA&w=560&h=315]Results
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers, 1:09.088
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes, 1:18.530
Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues, 1:25.897
Keith Yandle, Florida Panthers, 1:34.611
Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators, 1:40.568
Roman Josi, Nashville Predators, 1:47.128
Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks, 1:58.824
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche, 2:17.37
Carlson beats Burns to win the SAP NHL Hardest Shot
Washington Capitals defensemanJohn Carlson unleashed a blast clocked at 102.8 miles per hour to defeat Sharks’ defenseman Brent Burns(100.6 MPH).
Carlson, who has eight goals in 49 games this season, said he didn’t enter the competition with any swagger, considering he was going up against the likes of Burns, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones.
“I wasn’t really thinking too much about it,” he said. “I think all those guys have really hard shots; a lot harder shots than me I would say. I think from that end I had no expectations of what anyone was going to shoot. It was just fun to chop it up a little bit.”
The record in the event belongs to Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who unleashed a shot of 108.8 MPH in 2012. Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber, then with the Nashville Predators, had a shot of 108.1 MPH in 2016.
Results
John Carlson, Washington Capitals, 102.8
Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks, 100.6
Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets, 99.4
Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning, 96.2
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