2019 All-Star Mini Game

It was definitely another successful All-Star weekend, as the NHL and their best players really put on a good show, between the Skills Competition on Friday night and the 3-on-3 tournament on Saturday night.  It's certainly a showcase of skill and speed and there was more than enough for everyone in San Jose.

In the tournament, the Central Division finally got the best of the Pacific in the opener, stomping them 10-4.  The Colorado connection of Mikko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog were everywhere and putting numbers up in the first half, cruising to victory.

The Eastern Conference match-up was much better, as it was a close game for the better part of the time, but the Metropolitan Division really poured it on in the 2nd half, scoring four unanswered goals and taking the game 7-4 in the end.  Sidney Crosby of the Penguins and Seth Jones of the Blue Jackets were definite standouts in that game.

It all led up to the final, between the Central and Metropolitan Divisions and it was Crosby again, taking the lime light, as he led the Eastern squad to a 10-5 victory, thanks to 2 goals and 3 assists in the game, earning MVP honours at the tournament and taking top spot in the scoring ranks for the night as well, finishing with 4 goals and 4 assists in the two games.

Crosby's effort wasn't quite enough for the mini-game victory for Eric though.  The 8 points was good, but since Crosby was his only representation for the weekend, it fell short to both Clayton and Stuart, who each had five games played between the three games and they both came away with 5 goals and 9 points from their players.  If this was a paid mini-game, it would be considered a tie, since they were even on goals, no wins and points.

More importantly though, it was a good break, entertainment was had and now we can concentrate on the stretch run to the playoffs.