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Crew Matthews defeated Crew McDavid, 7-4, within the 2024 NHL All-Star Sport finals at Scotiabank Area on Saturday, wrapping up an action-packed weekend in Toronto crammed with 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 Sport historical past that U.S.-born gamers received the accolade in consecutive seasons.
Deserving of the MVP or not, Matthews performed a job within the victory, netting two targets within the ultimate. 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 raise
The NHL expertise competitors underwent a little bit of a facelift this 12 months, with principally optimistic outcomes. Gone have been gamers taking pictures on golf programs and on the seashore, and again have been primary occasions that allowed the sport’s biggest to show their expertise in an precise hockey atmosphere.
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, who helped encourage the adjustments, took the abilities competitors crown and the newly added million-dollar prize.
The revamped look introduced loads of pleasure to All-Star weekend, one thing that’d been missing in recent times. Pittsburgh Penguins’ future Corridor of Famer, Sidney Crosby, taking part in his ninth occasion, referred to as this 12 months’s competitors “awesome,” backed by the reception from the gamers and followers.
Lightning star’s damper habits spotlights an All-Star downside
Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning placed on a downer on an in any other case optimistic weekend after giving lower than complete effort in the course of 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.
Nevertheless, whereas Kucherov’s angle is not worthy of celebration, it might spotlight a extra vital downside with All-Star video games. The previous Hart Trophy winner clearly did not need to spend his break in Toronto.
Nevertheless, in a manner, the NHL has compelled gamers to take part or threat 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.
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