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SPORTS Tuesday 30 January 2018

Rakell, Boeser lead Pacific Division to NHL All-Star win

By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Van-
couver’s Brock Boeser was
more than happy to just be
at the NHL All-Star game,
mingling with some of the
high-profile players he grew
up admiring.
Leaving Amalie Arena as
the first rookie to take MVP
honors since Mario Lemieux
in 1985 on Sunday far ex-
ceeded anything he imag-
ined possible.
“Shocked,” the 20-year-old
said Canucks star said, de-
scribing his reaction. “I nev-
er would have dreamt this
any time in life.”
Rickard Rakell had two
goals and Boeser, John-
ny Gaudreau and Drew
Doughty also scored to
help the Pacific Division
beat the Atlantic 5-2 in the
championship game of a
four-team divisional tour-
nament played in an en- Pacific Division’s Rickard Rakell, left, of the Anaheim Ducks, is unable to score past Central Division goalie Pekka Rinne, of the
tertaining three-on-three Nashville Predators, during the NHL hockey All-Star game Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018 in Tampa, Fla.
format adopted for the All- Associated Press
Star game in 2016. for the Atlantic, one off Smith, who stopped six of ties. Players walked the red team with the NHL’s best
The NHL’s leading rookie both Fleury and Smith in the seven shots in the second carpet, posing for pictures record represented by a
scorer with 24 goals and 19 final. half. “Our guys did a good and signing autographs be- league-high four players,
assists for the Canucks also Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kuch- job to up the tempo.” fore entering Amalie Arena the sellout crowd of 19,092
had a helper in the final af- erov had three goals in the All-Star weekend began for the first All-Star game roared its approval when
ter scoring to put his team Atlantic’s 7-4 semifinal win with a free outdoor con- played in Tampa since the Atlantic-Metropolitan
ahead for good in the Pa- over the Metropolitan Di- cert headlined by Fitz and 1999, the last of Wayne semifinal began with goal-
cific’s 5-2 semifinal victory vision, however the Light- the Tantrums and also fea- Gretzky’s 18 appearances ie Andrei Vasilevskiy, plus
over the Central Division. ning’s young star was shut tured a three-day fun fest in the midseason showcase Kucherov, Point and Steven
“I was definitely nervous out in the championship for fans, as well as the an- that shifts to San Jose, Cali- Stamkos on the ice at the
coming into it,” said Boeser, game. nual skills competition that fornia, next season. same time.
the only rookie among 15 “After we saw that we won wrapped up Saturday’s “Tampa proved it’s a Kucherov’s hat trick in the
first-time All-Stars. “(I said) the first game, we said we festivities. great hockey town,” said Atlantic’s semifinal win was
enjoy this, just have fun, needed to tighten up a Adding spice and a unique Lightning first-time All-Star the first for an All-Star game
smile. That’s what I did.” little bit and play a little flavor to the experience Brayden Point, added to since the NHL instituted
Goalies Marc-Andre Fleury harder there for the cash,” was Tampa’s annual Gas- the game because of an the three-match, three-on-
and Mike Smith teamed to said Gaudreau, who plays parilla Pirate Invasion, injury to Tampa Bay defen- three tournament format.
allow just four goals in the for the Calgary Flames. which drew what officials seman Victor Hedman. “It’s “He’s a magical player,”
two games the Pacific won “We made sure we were estimated as an addition- awesome.” Cooper of the 24-year-
to claim the $1 million win- ready to go. (Because) al 200,000 people to the With the Lightning’s Jon old two-time All-Star who’s
ner-take-all prize. now there’s something to downtown waterfront for Cooper coaching the At- among the league’s lead-
Mike Green had two goals play for in the finals,” said a parade and other activi- lantic Division, and the ing scorers.q