Group Matthews defeated Group McDavid, 7-4, within the 2024 NHL All-Star Recreation finals at Scotiabank Area on Saturday, wrapping up an action-packed weekend in Toronto full of good and unhealthy.
Listed below are three takeaways from this 12 months’s annual showcase.
Auston Matthews’ MVP win makes historical past
Unsurprisingly, the Maple Leafs star earned MVP honors enjoying in entrance of the hometown followers in Toronto. Matthews’ win, coupled with Matthew Tkachuk’s in 2023, marks the first time in All-Star Recreation historical past that U.S.-born gamers received the accolade in consecutive seasons.
Deserving of the MVP or not, Matthews performed a task within the victory, netting two objectives within the last. He turned the fifth Maple Leaf ever to win the award and the primary in 33 years, becoming a member of Vincent Damphousse (1991), Bruce Gamble (1968), Frank Mahovlich (1963) and Eddie Shack (1962).
Stunningly, all however Damphousse (Chicago) completed the feat in Toronto.
NHL expertise competitors will get a carry
The NHL expertise competitors underwent a little bit of a facelift this 12 months, with largely optimistic outcomes. Gone had been gamers taking photographs on golf programs and on the seaside, and again had been fundamental occasions that allowed the sport’s biggest to show their expertise in an precise hockey surroundings.
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, who helped encourage the modifications, took the talents competitors crown and the newly added million-dollar prize.
The revamped look introduced numerous pleasure to All-Star weekend, one thing that’d been missing lately. Pittsburgh Penguins’ future Corridor of Famer, Sidney Crosby, taking part in his ninth occasion, known as this 12 months’s competitors “awesome,” backed by the reception from the gamers and followers.
Lightning star’s damper conduct spotlights an All-Star drawback
Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning placed on a downer on an in any other case optimistic weekend after giving lower than whole effort throughout the expertise competitors on Friday.
He obtained boos from the Toronto crowd, which crept up once more throughout Saturday’s All-Star contest after he failed to attain on a shootout attempt.
Nonetheless, whereas Kucherov’s angle is not worthy of celebration, it might spotlight a extra vital drawback with All-Star video games. The previous Hart Trophy winner clearly did not wish to spend his break in Toronto.
Nonetheless, in a manner, the NHL has pressured gamers to take part or danger doable fines and a one-game suspension.
If the league insists on conserving the mandate going, they will count on to see extra disinterested gamers like Kucherov sooner or later.