NHL Skills Competition & All-Star Game
- Updated: February 1, 2017
All Star Game
“I had a lot of favorite parts,” said Doughty after the weekend had concluded, “seeing some of the guys you play against that you don’t know too well, that’s always a fun part, but the most fun I had been meeting the top 100 players, getting to meet guys like Nick Lindstrom, so that was pretty cool for me.” Pretty cool is an apt description of the opening of the game, where each player on the list came out on the ice in alphabetical order, and wow, that’s a hell of a lineup. As each All-Star was introduced, they skated down the line and shook the hand of every hockey Great, (not gonna lie I was jealous.) Then, the most epic puck drop of all time – every member of the NHL 100 dropped a puck for each member of the All-Stars to play. Well done, Kings, well done. Carly Rae Jepson did a beautiful rendition of the Canadian national anthem, while Kings Ice Crew member Courtney Daniels filled in last-minute for no-show Fifth Harmony doing the American national anthem.
The Pacific vs. Central game was up first, the Pacific streaking into the lead easily having scored 3 goals before the Central got one. Unsurprising really, as since the inception of 3-on-3 the Kings, Flames and Sharks lead the league in winning percentage, at 0.840, 0.722 and 0.667 respectively, and Carter leads the league in OT goals with 7. Carter scored the second Pacific goal, from Doughty, Brent Burns scored a stunning breakaway goal, then Doughty scored the 5th and that was it for the first 10 minute period. (I do enjoy scoring on Corey Crawford!) Martin Jones was in for the second period for the Pacific, who easily kept the team in the contest; in fact he scored an assist on the Pacific’s 10th goal (yes, you read that correctly, 10 goals for the division), making it so every player on the team had at least 1 point. Cam Fowler led with 1 goal and 4 assists, Doughty and Carter both ended the game with a goal and 2 assists. Carter’s second assist was just stunning – on the breakaway he deked and got Dubnyk to the ground. Meanwhile, the puck is left front door for Pavelski, who scored easily.
The first period for the Atlantic vs. Metropolitan was even with 3 goals a piece, but when Brayden Holtby came in for the Metropolitan, he stopped 12 of the 15 shots while the Atlantic let in 7, (one was an empty net). Both Cam Atkinson and John Tavares ended with 4 points a piece for the Metropolitan. So onto the final they went, where Pavelski scored 22 seconds in from Carter and Doughty. It was tied quickly with some Jones on Jones crime, and a second goal followed that I’m sure Jones would want back. McDavid was denied a few times, but it’s not easy to deny McDavid, so he tied on a breakaway, (there’s so much space in 3-on-3 that getting a breakaway was a pretty common, and gorgeous occurrence.) The Pacific ended the first up 3-2, and almost made it 4-2 early in the second with a goal from Kesler that was ultimately reviewed as offside, (McDavid giveth and taketh away – while cheering for the Ducks was difficult, cheering for McDavid was an easy task.) Atkinson tied the game and eventual MVP Wayne Simmonds made a play past Doughty to get what would be the game winning goal. “Three on three I’m expecting to be made a fool of at least once out there,” Doughty said. “It’s just sometimes when you’re playing with this caliber of players, you just have to tip your hat to them and accept the fact that you may look foolish.” Which is exactly what Simmonds had wanted – Doughty to be on the ice when he scored. “I thought Pavs was going to get the puck so I just let Simmonds go by me and I was going to try to go the other way and then when he had one step on me he’s faster than me so I was screwed” said Doughty.
Congratulations to the NHL and the LA Kings for hosting such an incredible benchmark celebration. If you came out for any of it, you know how special it was.
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Kings and the rest of the LA sports teams! All Cali, all the time!
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