Connor McDavid dominated the NHL skills competition on Friday. Less than 24 hours later, it was crowd favorite Auston Matthews who stood out at Scotiabank Arena.
The Toronto Maple Leafs star scored two goals, including the game-winner, and added an assist in a 7-4 win over Team McDavid in the final of the three-on-three All-Star Game mini tournament on Saturday.
Members of the winning team shared the US$1 million prize. Matthews was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Matthews had three other Maple Leafs players on his team: Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly.
“The whole weekend itself is special for all of us, especially for the host city and the players on their team,” Matthews said. It was great to end it with the victory. Everyone goes home happy. »
McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, had won the same amount alone the day before during the skills competition.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was part of Team McDavid, recording three assists in two games.
Suzuki got his first assist on Boone Jenner’s goal in the semifinals, then set up the nets for Jenner and Tomas Hertl in the final.
For Marner, who grew up in Markham, Ontario, north of Toronto, the experience of the last days will therefore remain a moment to cherish.
“It’s incredible,” he said. I have dreamed of being a part of it my whole life. You always dream of playing in an all-star game and to have that here in this city is pretty remarkable. »
Team McDavid erased a late two-goal deficit in its semi-final and won 4-3 in a shootout against Team MacKinnon.
Team Matthews won its semi-final 6-5 against Team Hughes, also in a shootout.
The intensity of the game increased a notch in the final, as the two finalist teams moved closer to the prize.
“There was a lot more speed,” Rielly shared.
This year’s All-Star weekend festivities spanned three days, with the return of the player draft and the addition of a three-on-three Professional Women’s Hockey League game taking place on Thursday.
The NHL also presented an all-star game with a draft in 2011, 2012 and 2015, then went with a format grouping players by sections.
Maple Leaf Gardens hosted the first All-Star Game 90 years ago as a fundraiser after Maple Leafs forward Ace Bailey suffered a career-ending injury to his career.
This year’s event marked the ninth time Toronto hosted the All-Star Game festivities, and the first time since 2000.