The women were on centre stage at the NHL all-star skills competition for a second straight year.
And they hope that exposure will eventually lead to brighter days in the not-too-distant future.
Canada beat the United States 2-1 in a spirited 3-on-3 game between female players Friday night. Rebecca Johnston and Melodie Daoust scored for the Canadians, while Hilary Knight replied for the Americans in the 20-minute showcase.
While the game didnB次元官网网址檛 have the intensity of a true international, there were big saves, breakaways and some physical play inside Enterprise Center, where fans chanted B次元官网网址淯-S-A! U-S-A!B次元官网网址� off the opening faceoff.
Kendall Coyne Schofield turned heads at the 2019 event in San Jose in the fastest skater competition, while Brianna Decker impressed with her deft puck skills in the passing event. Female players were also on hand at the 2018 all-star game in Tampa, Fla.
In terms of NHLers on Friday, New York Islanders centre Mathew Barzal dethroned three-time defending champion Connor McDavid in the fastest skater competition with a time of 13.175 seconds. McDavid, who suffered a serious knee injury at the end of last season, actually posted a faster time (13.215 seconds) than his three previous victories. BarzalB次元官网网址檚 mark was just 0.003 seconds off of the record set by DetroitB次元官网网址檚 Dylan Larkin in 2016.
B次元官网网址淗e flies,B次元官网网址� McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, said of Barzal on Friday afternoon. B次元官网网址滺e skates like the wind and heB次元官网网址檚 got real good hands and heB次元官网网址檚 definitely a player thatB次元官网网址檚 fun to watch.B次元官网网址�
Apart from the womenB次元官网网址檚 3-on-3 game, another addition to this yearB次元官网网址檚 skill competition was the so-called B次元官网网址淪hooting StarsB次元官网网址� event that saw players positioned on a raised platform behind one of the goals at Enterprise Center fire pucks at a variety of targets.
Thank you to the for creating a historic moment in womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey last night. It was an honor to be a part of it.
B次元官网网址� Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux (@LamoureuxTwins)
Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks won the event, while Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin also took part in the 10-competitor field.
St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington thrilled the hometown fans by winning the save streak/shootout challenge with 10 straight stops B次元官网网址� including one on San JoseB次元官网网址檚 Thomas Hertl as he sported a Justin Bieber mask.
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Shea Weber won the hardest shot with 106.5 miles per hour, just ahead of Washington Capitals blue-liner and defending champion John CarlssonB次元官网网址檚 104.5. Weber also won three straight from 2015 to 2017, but wasnB次元官网网址檛 named to the all-star game the last two years.
Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Jaccob Slavin, meanwhile, took home the shooting accuracy award.
The Canadian roster for the womenB次元官网网址檚 game included Daoust, Johnston, Poulin, Meghan Agosta, Blayre Turnbull, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner, Renata Fast, Laura Fortino and Ann-Renee Desbiens.
The U.S. countered with Coyne Schofield, Decker, Knight, Amanda Kessel, Alex Carpenter, Annie Pankowski, Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson, Kacey Bellamy, Lee Stecklein and Alex Rigsby.
Friday marked the biggest stage the NHL has ever provided the womenB次元官网网址檚 game, and the second-biggest overall aside from the Olympics. The players are banking on it eventually leading to a sustainable league in partnership with the NHL.
Catch up on everything from the historic Elite Women's 3-on-3 presented by .
B次元官网网址� NHL (@NHL)
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馃嚚馃嚘:
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 thrilled that we have an opportunity for the womenB次元官网网址檚 game to be demonstrated,B次元官网网址� said commissioner Gary Bettman. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e excited to be here, weB次元官网网址檙e excited to have them. The fact we can shine a brighter light on the womenB次元官网网址檚 game is a positive for them, for the game and for young girls watching and aspiring to do the same thing.B次元官网网址�
But itB次元官网网址檚 also unclear if the NHL is willing to go any further in its support.
B次元官网网址淲e are all hopeful,B次元官网网址� Johnston said. B次元官网网址漊s being here, I think thatB次元官网网址檚 a step in the right direction. The NHL is supporting womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey. TheyB次元官网网址檙e helping us get the exposure that we need.
B次元官网网址淭he partnership is there. ItB次元官网网址檚 not something you can just build over night. For us itB次元官网网址檚 just being patient, trying to grow the game.B次元官网网址�
McDavid not expecting any tkachuk fireworks
McDavid missed ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 all-star media availability, but spoke ahead of the skills competition. Apart from discussing the seriousness of his knee injury B次元官网网址� the full details werenB次元官网网址檛 released until a documentary aired Friday B次元官网网址� the 23-year-old said he doesnB次元官网网址檛 expect there to be any issues between himself, Edmonton teammate Leon Draisaitl and Calgary forward Matthew Tkachuk. The Oilers and Flames played a heated game two weeks ago where Tkachuk levelled Edmonton winger Zack Kassian with two huge hits. That led Kassian to jump a turtling Tkachuk and earn a two-game suspension. It also sparked a war of words as the Battle of Alberta went from simmering to red-hot. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e here to have a good time,B次元官网网址� McDavid said. B次元官网网址漌hatever is going on it will be settled, (but) definitely not at the all-star game.B次元官网网址� The Flames and Oilers play in Edmonton on Wednesday in KassianB次元官网网址檚 return from suspension.
Puck and player tracking on track
Bettman said puck and player tracking technology will be ready to go in each of the 16 arenas hosting playoff games this spring, and in all 31 buildings by the start of next season. The tracking is also being used at the all-star game for the second straight year. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檒l be, as a fan and a viewer, what you want it to be,B次元官网网址� Bettman said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檒l be able to watch the game as youB次元官网网址檝e always watched it traditionally if thatB次元官网网址檚 what you want. ThereB次元官网网址檒l be broadcast enhancements B次元官网网址� and thereB次元官网网址檒l be more data than ever before.B次元官网网址�
No Olympic decision
Bettman said thereB次元官网网址檚 still no decision on the NHL going to the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, but things donB次元官网网址檛 sound promising. While the NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation would like to see it happen, the league views the tournament as a major inconvenience in the middle of the schedule. The NHL went to five Winter Games between 1998 and 2014, but didnB次元官网网址檛 participate in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. B次元官网网址滸oing is extraordinarily disruptive,B次元官网网址� Bettman said. B次元官网网址淲e were very comfortable not going.B次元官网网址� IIHF president Rene Fasel has set an August deadline for the NHL to decide if its in or out.
OB次元官网网址橰eilly showing support
Blues centre Ryan OB次元官网网址橰eilly sported a different look during warmups B次元官网网址� a Kansas City Chiefs football helmet. The team advanced to the Super Bowl last weekend for the first time in 50 years, and will take on the San Francisco 49ers in the big game Feb. 2.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
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