, Metropolitan Division’s goaltender Igor Shesterkin, of the New York Rangers (31) blocks a shot from Atlantic Division’s Brady Tkachuk, of the Ottawa Senators (7) during the NHL All Star hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fl (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Saturday, February 4, 2023

Detroit’s Dylan Larkin had a hat trick in the 3-on-3 NHL All-Star Game final, and Toronto’s Mitch Marner picked up three assists for the Atlantic Division squad in its 7-5 win over the Central Division Saturday at FLA Live Arena in Miami.

Larkin wound up with five goals in the Atlantic’s two 20-minute games. Matthew Tkachuk of Florida had a five-point effort, including a hat trick, in the semifinal win over the Metropolitan Division to secure most valuable player honors for the day.

It was the first time the Atlantic Division won the All-Star Game in the seven years the NHL has used the divisional format. The 11 players on the Atlantic roster will split $1 million for the win.

In the second semifinal, the Atlantic squad defeated the Metropolitan Division 10-6 behind the efforts of the Tkachuk brothers. Matthew’s brother Brady Tkachuk of Ottawa had a goal and three assists, while Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov had three assists. Other goals for the Atlantic team were scored by Nick Suzuki of Montreal with two, and single tallies by Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay and David Pastrnak of Boston. Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevsky faced 13 shots on goal, stopping 10.

Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh and Alex Ovechkin of Washington combined for three goals while collecting three points each, and Johnny Gaudreau of Columbus had a hat trick.

Earlier, the Central Division knocked off the Pacific Division 6-4. St. Louis forward Vladimir Tarasenko picked up a goal and three assists, and Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado had two goals.

Central goalies Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg and Juuse Saros of Nashville surrendered four goals on 22 shots. For the Pacific, Stuart Skinner of Edmonton and Logan Thompson of Vegas each allowed three goals on seven shots,

Other goals for the Pacific were scored by San Jose defenseman Erik Karlsson and Oilers star Connor McDavid. Seth Jones of Chicago and Clayton Keller of Arizona each scored for the Central team. Karlsson also assisted on McDavid’s goal.