NHL ALL-STAR GAME TAKES OVER HOLLYWOOD . . .
A $1-million prize is on the line during the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game, which takes over Hollywood and STAPLES Center on Sunday (12:30 p.m. PT / 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS).
For the second straight year, all four divisions will compete in a 3-on-3 tournament, with each game 20 minutes in length. Teams – comprised of six forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders – will change ends at the 10-minute mark of each contest. Games that are tied after 20 minutes will be decided by a shootout.
The Atlantic Division won Saturday’s 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition and opted to face the Metropolitan Division in the second semifinal. The Pacific Division will play the Central Division in the opening game of the tournament. The two winners will advance to the final to determine the overall tournament champion.
Click here for rosters by division.
. . . GRETZKY STEPS IN AS COACH OF METROPOLITAN DIVISION
The NHL announced that Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky will serve as the head coach of the Metropolitan Division for Sunday’s 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game in place of Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella.
“The League came to me [Friday] night and said, ‘Would you like to coach?’ and I said, ‘Sure,’” Gretzky explained. “Playing in the All-Star Game is a privilege and a pleasure, and the chance to be around it and part of it [today] . . . I’m excited and I’m really looking forward to it.”
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NHL Short Notes
ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVAILS IN NHL ALL-STAR SKILLS COMPETITION
The Atlantic Division defeated the Pacific Division, 4-1, in the Discover NHL Shootout to win the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition and earn the right to select both its first opponent and when its semifinal matchup will be played during the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game.
Click here for a full recap.
Among the highlights:
* Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith scored from the far goal line in the Honda NHL Four Line Challenge.
* Oilers and Pacific Division captain Connor McDavid skated a 13.02-second lap to win the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater.
* Ryker Kesler, the son of Ducks forward Ryan Kesler, slipped the puck by Canadiens goaltender Carey Price in the Discover NHL Shootout.
TEAM GRETZKY WINS NHL ALL-STAR CELEBRITY SHOOTOUT
Justin Bieber recorded 1-1—2 and Cuba Gooding Jr. scored the decisive goal to guide Team Gretzky past Team Lemieux in the 2017 NHL All-Star Celebrity Shootout, a charity game featuring 21 members from the recently announced 100 Greatest NHL Players presented by Molson Canadian.
The game benefited Echoes of Hope, a nonprofit organization founded by Luc and Stacia Robitaille that strives to inspire hope in the lives of at-risk and emancipated foster youth.
Click here for a complete recap, including highlights.
the information above was provided by the NHL PR department
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