Eastern Conference dominates as NHL All-Stars put skills on display
In the end, it wasn't even close, yet everybody won.
The Eastern Conference put the Western Conference through the ringer Saturday night at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, pulling away in the shootout challenge and winning the event 29-12.
By winning the competition, the Eastern Conference decided to play in the first semifinal game Sunday in the 3-on-3 tournament, which will pit the Metropolitan Division against the Atlantic Division.
Sunday's All-Star tournament begins at 5 p.m. ET, and will feature three 20-minute games between divisional teams, with $1 million going to the winning squad.
| Event | Eastern Points | Western Points |
|---|---|---|
| Fastest Skater | 5 | 1 |
| Breakaway Challenge | 1 | 0 |
| Accuracy Shooting | 3 | 2 |
| Skill Challenge Relay | 1 | 2 |
| Hardest Shot | 2 | 3 |
| Shootout | 17 | 4 |
| TOTAL | 29 | 12 |
It was a fun night in Nashville, with personalities on display, and by all accounts one of the better skills competitions in recent years.
The East got off to a quick start in the fastest skater challenge, earning five of six points. Detroit Red Wings rookie phenom Dylan Larkin broke Mike Gartner's 1996 record, skating a lap in a ridiculous 13.172 seconds, earning the East an additional point, and giving it a 5-1 lead.
P.K. Subban won the the Breakaway Challenge, earning another point for the East, after he brilliantly paid tribute to Jaromir Jagr.
Up 6-1 heading into the third event, New York Islanders captain John Tavares kept the East going, winning the Accuracy Shooting Challenge.
The West finally got on the board in the Skills Challenge, winning the event but still trailing 10-5 after four events.
Shea Weber brought the West a little closer - and Nashville Predators fans to their feet - by winning the Hardest Shot Challenge. The score was 12-8 for the East heading into the final event.
The East embarrassed the West in the Shootout challenge. The three-round event saw Florida Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo shut the door, and the East scored 20 goals to the West's four to clinch the 2016 All-Star Skills Competition.