2018 NHL All-Star Skills Compettition

Today was the skills competition of the all-star game in Tampa Bay. Rookie Brock Boeser was the lone Canuck participating in the all-star game. Here is a recap of all six events.

Fastest Skater -- Won by Edmonton Oiler Connor McDavid (13.454 seconds)

Connor McDavid, seen speeding up the ice in a game vs the St. Louis Blues, defended his fastest skater title at the NHL All-Star game

This is a classic event at the NHL all-star game and is always the first event of the night. Former Lightning and current Habs forward Jonathan Drouin has the record for the fastest time at this event (13.103 seconds in 2015). This year just 1 second separated the slowest time (Josh Bailey of the NY Islanders posted a time of 14.413 seconds). Speed really does kill in the NHL. Having an extra step on an opponent can create a clear breakaway or a golden scoring chance.

Passing challenge -- Won by St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (46.610 seconds)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo won the inaugural passing challenge at the 2018 all-star game

This was a brand new event added to skills competition and comprised three different mini-events. First, players had to hit 4 different LED targets that lit up randomly. After hitting all 4 targets, players had to complete 4 give and go passes off rubber bumpers. Finally, they had to shoot over a bumper into 4 mini nets and finish by scoring on a regulation sized net. The first and third events proved to be the most challenging for the players. The worst performer of the night was LA Kings Defenseman Drew Doughty who struggled to hit the LED targets and the mini nets. It took him 1:47.415 to finish. I like this event. 

Longest save streak -- won by Las Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc Andre Fleury (14 saves)

Las Vegas Golden Knights Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was on a roll stopping 14 straight in the skills competition at the NHL All-Star Game

This was a new event at the skills competition and featured five of the eight goalies at the All-Star game (NY Rangers Henrik Lundqvist vs Central division shooters, Winnipeg Jet Connor Hellebuyck vs Pacific division shooters, Nashville Predator Pekka Rinne vs. Metropolitan division shooters, Vegas Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Atlantic divion shooters and Tampa Bay Lightning Andrei Vasilevskiy vs. Central division shooters; Calgary Flame Mike Smith, Montreal Canadien Carey Price and Washington Capital Braden Holtby did not participate in this event.. Every goalie faced a minimum of 9 shots and if he saved the 9th shot the round continued until he was scored on. Canuck Brock Boeser ended Hellebuyck's night on the first extra shot. Fleury (14 saves) edged out Rinne (13 saves) for the win. The worst performing goalies were Hellebuyck and Vasilevskiy who each stopped 3 in a row. Lundqvist stopped 10 shots overall in his turn. 

Puck Control Challenge -- won by Calgary Flame Johnny Gaudreau (24.650 seconds)

Calgary Flames defenseman Johnny Guadreau dangled his way to victory at this year's puck control relay at the NHL All-Star game

This annual event featured one new twist. Players had to balance the puck on their stick and place it through three gates of different heights determined by which LED gate lit up. Before that, players stick-handled through 8 pucks and maneuvered through an eight cone obstacle course. The gated portion of the event proved to be the most challenging. Austin Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs resorted to picking up the puck and placing it on his stick and even then he missed a few times and finished in 44.434 seconds, a full 20 secomds longer than it took the winner Gaudreau. I really don't see the gated section being included in next year's skills competition. It really isn't a relevant skill players use in the game.

Hardest Shot contest -- Won by Washington Capital Alex Ovechkin (101.3mph)

Washington Capital Alex Ovechkin finally won the hardest shot contest

An annual classic at the skills competition, shooters get 2 attempts to shoot the puck as hard as they can. This year, players did not shoot their two shots consecutively. This year's event was missing some big names Montreal's Shea Weber (currently injured) and Boston's Zdeno Chara (not selected as an all-star) did not compete this year. San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns had the weakest attempt (88mph). The record holder for hardest shot was set by Chara who had a 108.8mph shot in 2012. Former Flames and Blues defenseman Al MacInnis has won this event the most number of times (7). As stick technology has improved over the years so too has the speed of the shots. Former Capitals defenseman Al Iafrate won the inaugural hardest shot with a 96.0mph shot using a one piece wooden stick. Since then, more and more of the competitors are using 2-piece graphite sticks which can produce much more power. If I was an NHL goalie I wouldn't want to face any of the shooters in this years competition. 

Accuracy Shot -- Won by Vancouver Canuck Brock Boeser (11.136 seconds)

Vancouver Canuck rookie Sensation Brock Boeser won this year's accuracy shot competition at the all-star game

This year's accuracy shot competition was tweaked a bit. In years past four breakable clay targets were attached to the four corners of the net and players could choose the order they hit the targets. This year, five LED targets were attached to the net (4 in each corner of the net and one in the middle). Players had to hit the target that was lit and each target only stayed lit for 3 seconds. Boeser won this competition and he actually broke the upper right target causing a big delay before Brad Marchand of the Bruins (2nd worst taking 44.692 seconds to hit all five targets) got his turn. Anze Kopitar of the Kings was even worse taking 50.844 seconds. I thought  it was awesome to see Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby greet Boeser after his performance. Daniel Sedin of the Canucks holds the record for the fastest time at this event, taking 7.3 seconds to hit all 4 targets. Former Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche won this event the most times, 8 (1998-2000 Bourque shared the title with at least one other competitor who equalled the number of shot attempts to hit all 4 targets.

Now that the skills competition is complete, tomorrow is the main event. The Pacific division faces off against the central division @ 12:30pm PST followed by the Metropolitan division facing the Atlantic division an hour later and the 2 winning teams will face each other an hour after that. All three games are 3 on 3 with 10 minute halves. Ties are settled by a 3 shooter shootout. Last year the Pacific division won with John Scott being named MVP. Will Boeser win this year's MVP?

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