Some of the key figures in whatB次元官网网址檚 once again the NHLB次元官网网址檚 most heated rivalry briefly put their differences aside at the leagueB次元官网网址檚 all-star game.

ItB次元官网网址檒l soon be back to regularly scheduled programming.

Tomas Hertl scored the winner B次元官网网址� his fifth goal of the night B次元官网网址� as the Pacific Division defeated their Atlantic counterparts 5-4 to win the 3-on-3 showcase tournament Saturday.

The victorious squad featured Matthew Tkachuk of the Calgary Flames, as well as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers B次元官网网址� combatants on teams embroiled in a war of words over the last two weeks.

The Oilers and Flames have been at odds since Tkachuk levelled Zack Kassian with two huge hits in a recent testy matchup. Kassian eventually had enough and mauled CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 winger/chief antagonist to earn himself a two-game suspension.

B次元官网网址淣othing added to the fuel to the rivalry this weekend,B次元官网网址� Tkachuk said in the winning locker room Saturday. B次元官网网址漈his was just a bunch of really good hockey players coming and trying to put on a show.B次元官网网址�

Tkachuk actually set up Draisaitl for a goal with a slick no-look pass in the PacificB次元官网网址檚 10-5 triumph over the Central Division in the semifinal, but skated straight to the bench instead of celebrating.

B次元官网网址淛ust wanted to get off the ice,B次元官网网址� Tkachuk said. B次元官网网址滻 was out there for a while.B次元官网网址�

Draisaitl said after the latest instalment of the Battle of Alberta that he would B次元官网网址減robably get off the iceB次元官网网址� himself if he was ever out there with Tkachuk at the all-star game.

B次元官网网址淣ice play by him,B次元官网网址� he said with a smile. B次元官网网址滾ike I said all along, weB次元官网网址檙e all here to have fun, weB次元官网网址檙e all here to have a good time. Things like (Tkachuk-Kassian), they happen in the game, but this is not the time to be grumpy about anything or whatever it is. Everyone here had a great time.B次元官网网址�

Draisaitl said something to Tkachuk after the goal, but the former insisted there was nothing malicious in the exchange.

B次元官网网址淚 was just joking around,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 hope everyone knows I was just joking.B次元官网网址�

Tied in the standings with 57 points and in a battle for playoff positioning, the Flames and Oilers will renew regular-season hostilities Wednesday in Edmonton and then again three nights later in Calgary.

B次元官网网址淚t was fine,B次元官网网址� Flames captain Mark Giordano said of sharing space with a pair of Oilers. B次元官网网址漈his is away from the regular season. ItB次元官网网址檚 a different atmosphere. I thought both sides handled themselves really well this weekend. IB次元官网网址檓 sure next week when we get back to the Battle of Alberta thereB次元官网网址檒l be that fire.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 know itB次元官网网址檚 a big battle between us,B次元官网网址� Calgary goalie David Rittich added. B次元官网网址漌e just want to have fun. WeB次元官网网址檙e doing this for fans, for kids.B次元官网网址�

McDavid, the NHLB次元官网网址檚 leading scorer, finished with a combined four assists on the night.

B次元官网网址淚 definitely didnB次元官网网址檛 feel my best out there, but itB次元官网网址檚 all for fun,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌e have a couple days to get ready for the real stuff.B次元官网网址�

Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak took home the most valuable player award after the NHLB次元官网网址檚 leading goal-scorer found the back of the net once and added an assist in the final for the Atlantic. He also recorded four points (three goals, one assist) in his divisionB次元官网网址檚 9-5 semifinal victory over the Metropolitan inside Enterprise Center.

Hertl, who showed his personality by wearing a Justin Bieber mask during one of FridayB次元官网网址檚 events at the skills competition, scored the winner with 2:36 left when the San Jose Sharks centre beat Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy off a setup from Draisaitl and McDavid.

Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson scored two goals in the final as the Pacific battled back from a 3-1 deficit to grab the US$1-million prize at the home of the defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not going to take this for granted,B次元官网网址� said Pettersson, who tried and failed on his attempt at what would have been a jaw-dropping lacrosse-style goal. B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 awesome to be here. I remember I grew up watching this. Now IB次元官网网址檓 here sharing this with everybody.B次元官网网址�

The Pacific took the all-star crown in both 2016 and 2018, while the Metropolitan captured the title in 2017 and again last year.

Tkachuk, who grew up in St. Louis when his father Keith played for the Blues, suited up against younger brother Brady, a winger with the Ottawa Senators, in the final.

He actually stole the puck from his sibling to set up one of PetterssonB次元官网网址檚 goals.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of fun,B次元官网网址� Matthew Tkachuk said. B次元官网网址滻 was humbled and honoured to be here.B次元官网网址�

ANDERSENB次元官网网址橲 CONNECTION TO WOMENB次元官网网址橲 GAME

The NHL and its all-stars were overwhelmingly supportive of the 20 female players that took part in a 3-on-3 game during FridayB次元官网网址檚 skills competition. But for Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen, whether or not the NHL gets involved the same way the NBA did with the WNBA hits close to home because his sister Amalia plays in the NCAA at the University of Maine. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what the right answer is, the right solution is,B次元官网网址� said the netminder. B次元官网网址漁f course I want see a (league) for young girls to dream of playing in. I know first-hand with my sister, she goes to college, and after that I donB次元官网网址檛 really know whatB次元官网网址檚 in the future. ItB次元官网网址檚 just important we keep trying to grow it and hopefully something down the road can come up and they can have something to strive for besides playing college.B次元官网网址�

KANE KONUNDRUM

Fans in St. Louis booed Chicago Blackhawks sniper Patrick Kane throughout the festivities. But with the star winger on the same side as their Blues in the 3-on-3 tournament, they briefly cheered when he scored for the Central in its loss to the Pacific before resuming the jeers. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 all in good fun,B次元官网网址� Kane said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes you get booed, you kind of like it a little bit B次元官网网址� St. Louis-Chicago, itB次元官网网址檚 a huge rivalry.B次元官网网址�

NEXT YEARB次元官网网址橲 ALL-STAR FORMAT COULD CHANGE

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the 2021 all-star game will be hosted by the Florida Panthers. He also alluded to there being a B次元官网网址漝istinct international flavourB次元官网网址� at the annual festivities, but didnB次元官网网址檛 provide concrete details. The all-star game format from 1998 through 2002 saw players from North America take on the rest of the world.

___

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

Like us on and follow us on .