NHL All-Star: MVP Matthew Tkachuk leads Atlantic to victory

Central vs. Atlantic | 2023 NHL All-Star Finals Highlights

The 2023 NHL All-Star Game ended with the Atlantic Division as the champion, securing a 7-5 win over the Central Division in front of a jam-packed audience of 19,250 at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

The Tkachuk brothers played a significant role in the Atlantic’s victory, with Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk being named the game’s MVP.

Matthew recorded a goal and an assist in the final game, following up on his outstanding performance in the semifinals where he contributed three goals and two assists to a 10-6 victory against the Metropolitan Division.

NHL

2023-02-04 23:27

🏆 CHAMPIONS 🏆 The Atlantic Division is crowned champion of the #NHLAllStar Game with a 7-5 victory over the Central Division! https://t.co/88L03dOCaD

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“Unreal experience. This weekend is unreal, but it is a lot of moving parts and it’s definitely not a break,” Matthew said. “You’re going everywhere, especially being the host team, but we had an unreal time with it. I really, really enjoyed it.”

Meanwhile, his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk had one goal and four assists, with one goal and three assists coming in the semifinals.

Atlantic dominates, wins $1 million prize

The All-Star Game kicked off to a slow start with a lackluster performance between the Central and the Pacific Division, with the Central winning 6-4.

However, the second game between the Metro and Atlantic delivered a more exciting match, with Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin teaming up for two goals. Columbus Blue Jackets’ Johnny Gaudreau recorded a hat trick for the Metro, and Matthew Tkachuk scored a hat trick of his own for the Atlantic.

NHL

2023-02-05 00:59

Iconic. #NHLAllStar https://t.co/8N8wbzKrxj

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The Central failed to up their intensity level in the final as the Atlantic dominated from beginning to end. Tkachuk and Detroit Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin combined for four goals against the Central.

“The Tkachuks led the way with the locker room talk how we were going to play pretty hard, and we did,” said Larkin, who had a total of six points over the two games with five goals and one assist.

“It was way more fun winning it and having fun, guys scoring goals and doing what it takes. It was a great time.”

NHL

2023-02-04 23:30

Matthew Tkachuk (@TKACHUKycheese_) is your 2023 @Honda #NHLAllStar MVP! 🌴 https://t.co/DbIO07h4en

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The Atlantic Division was also helped by three assists from Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitchell Marner, as well as a goal and an assist from Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov. Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark stopped all six shots he faced in the first period, and Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy made 11 saves in the second period.

The 11 players of the Atlantic Division will split the $1 million prize for winning the All-Star Game.

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Central loses despite Avalanche All-Stars’ performance

The Central Division was powered by All-Stars from the Colorado Avalanche during the final game. Defenseman Cale Makar and center Nathan MacKinnon each contributed one goal and two assists, and forward Mikko Rantanen added one goal and one assist.

Rantanen mentioned that the Atlantic was playing well and that the level of play increased as the game progressed.

“You could see the game ramped up a little bit. We had a little break, so we were a little bit cold, but it ramps up always. A million is a lot of money. You could tell guys were trying harder.”

Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche forward

In the first period, Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros gave up three goals on 14 shots, while in the second period, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made seven saves.

Despite their efforts, the Central Division has come up short in all three of its appearances in the final game since the current format was implemented.