MVP Auston Matthews leads his crew to NHL All-Star victory – ESPN

Auston Matthews says the Maple Leafs may use Justin Bieber behind their bench after singer introduced the power to the All-Star Sport. (0:47)
TORONTO — The Maple Leafs made their hometown crowd proud throughout NHL All-Star Weekend. And it was capped by an MVP efficiency from none aside from Auston Matthews.
Certainly, the league’s main purpose scorer stole the present throughout Saturday’s NHL All-Star Sport event. He closed a revamped weekend of festivities on the league’s annual showcase by successful the competition’s prime honor in Workforce Matthews’ 7-4 victory over Workforce McDavid within the 3-on-3 finale.
Three of Matthews’ teammates with the Maple Leafs — Mitch Marner, Morgan Rielly and William Nylander — have been all a part of Workforce Matthews and contributed to the title on their dwelling ice at Scotiabank Enviornment.
“The entire weekend in itself is particular for all of us,” Matthews mentioned. “Particularly the host metropolis and the hometown guys.”
Whereas Matthews owned the highlight, it was Marner — a born-and-raised Torontonian — who discovered all the expertise notably significant.
“[It was] wonderful,” he mentioned. “I’ve dreamt of being in All-Star video games my complete life. I’ve watched All-Star video games from my sofa, [from] my carpet with my dad and mom. Simply watching [Sidney Crosby] and [Jason] Spezza, [Marian] Hossa, Owen Nolan, and the checklist goes on and on. You all the time dream of being part of one. To have it on this metropolis, it is fairly outstanding, and to have the ability to get pleasure from it with those that received me to the place I’m, it is even higher.”
Marner dented the scoresheet a number of instances throughout his two video games Saturday, one in all many to take action on a day that featured 4 All-Star rosters — decided by captain alternatives in Thursday evening’s participant draft — icing two preliminary video games. The winners met within the ultimate.
On Thursday, Matthews had assist in the draft from co-captain Rielly and celeb captain Justin Bieber. Colorado Avalanche middle Nathan MacKinnon was joined by co-captain and his teammate in Denver Cale Makar and celeb captain Tate McRae in choosing his squad. Edmonton Oilers middle Connor McDavid was joined by co-captain and teammate Leon Draisaitl together with celeb captain Will Arnett. And Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes, with co-captains Jack Hughes, his brother and star from the New Jersey Devils, and Elias Pettersson, additionally of the Canucks, plus celeb captain Michael Buble, selected the opposite crew.
These lineups have been put to the take a look at on Saturday. Workforce McDavid defeated Workforce MacKinnon 4-3 in a Sport 1 shootout to advance, later joined by Workforce Matthews after it topped Workforce Hughes 6-5, additionally through shootout.
That set the stage for a ultimate headliner by McDavid — the hometown skater and $1 million prize winner from Friday’s abilities competitors — and Matthews, who posted 40 objectives for the Maple Leafs earlier than the All-Star break.
With that sort of star energy, even Rielly needed to admit the stakes have been excessive.
“The one factor that stunned me in any respect was nerves,” he mentioned. “I did not count on to get nervous or something like that earlier than the sport. And I believe while you’re in that atmosphere round all these elite gamers, I believe I used to be just a little nervous and I did not count on that myself.”
Matthews’ crew received rolling early, when Arizona Coyotes ahead Clayton Keller blasted a purpose previous Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. However that 1-0 lead evaporated when Columbus Blue Jackets star Boone Jenner got here by way of for Workforce McDavid towards New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, making it 1-1.
A flurry of fast objectives from there — by Matthews and Marner, countered by Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak and Draisaitl for Workforce McDavid — had the lean knotted 3-3 after the primary half.
Nashville Predators star Filip Forsberg struck quick within the second interval, beating Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to provide Workforce Matthews a 4-3 lead. The captain added some insurance coverage for his membership off a blistering one-timer to make it 5-3 for Workforce Matthews with 5 minutes to go in regulation.
Detroit Red Wings ahead Alex DeBrincat prolonged the Workforce Matthews lead earlier than a response by San Jose Sharks star Tomas Hertl put Workforce McDavid inside putting distance. It was New York Islanders ahead Mathew Barzal‘s purpose with simply over a minute left that sealed Workforce Matthews’ win.
“It was good to cap it off with a win, and all people goes dwelling blissful,” Matthews mentioned. “We wished to win, for certain. Speaking within the locker room, I do not suppose there was a lot messing round. All people was on the identical web page to attempt to go on the market and put in a reasonably good effort and attempt to come out with an excellent consequence.”
In doing so, the gamers displayed the parity — and pleasure — the NHL hoped to recapture at its All-Star Sport when bringing again the participant draft, which final ran in 2015.
“In entrance of the hometown followers,” Marner mentioned, “we wished to provide them a present.”
The NHL will resume its regular-season schedule Tuesday.

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