All-Star Preview: Hanifin, Metro to Face Atlantic

TAMPA - The stage is set for the weekend's main event: the 2018 NHL All-Star Game will pit the league's four divisions against one another in a 3-on-3 tournament.
Noah Hanifin and the defending champion Metropolitan Division will square off with the Atlantic Division in the second semifinal on Sunday afternoon. The winner in the East draws the winner of Central vs. Pacific in the final with a $1 million prize on the line.

Though he's an All-Star rookie, Hanifin's strategy heading into Sunday's 3-on-3 action is that of a veteran.
"Just go out and play," he said. "There's so much talent and so many skilled players in this event. Just go out, try to find some of the skilled forwards out there and pass to them. Just have fun with it."

Hanifin has certainly enjoyed his first NHL All-Star experience thus far, but defending the Metro's championship and going home with a little extra spending money wouldn't be a bad thing.
"It's a good reminder of why we play the game: we play for the fans," Hanifin said after Saturday's Skills Competition. "Fortunately all of us players get to do something we love for a living. I think it's a great celebration of that."
The 2018 NHL All-Star Game will be broadcast on NBC at 3:30 p.m.