Central Division routs Pacific in All-Star Game opener

SAN JOSE -- Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog had a hat trick, and St. Louis Blues forward Ryan O'Reilly had a goal and three assists for the Central Division in a 10-4 win against the Pacific Division in the first game of the 2019 Honda NHL All-Star Game 3-on-3 tournament at SAP Center on Saturday.

The Central Division, which defeated the Pacific for the first time in four first-round games in this format, faces the winner of the game between the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions for the championship. It is the Central's first time in the four-season history of the event.

Pacific coach Bill Peters of the Calgary Flames delivered on a promise to play the three San Jose Sharks representatives together, even though Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson are defensemen and Joe Pavelski is a forward. Traditionally, the 3-on-3 format, also used for overtime in NHL regular-season games, has lines featuring two forwards and a defenseman.

Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen gave the Central a 1-0 lead at 1:03, slamming home a pass from O'Reilly. Then, Landeskog scored on a one-timer of an O'Reilly pass to make it 2-0 at 1:33.

The third forward on Colorado's top line, Nathan MacKinnon, was named to the All-Star Game but could not play because of a bruised left foot. Instead, he was as an assistant to Central coach Paul Maurice of the Winnipeg Jets.

The three Colorado players have combined for 79 goals in 50 games.

Karlsson cut it to 2-1 with a breakaway goal against Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (eight saves) at 4:51 after Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson set him free with a poke check.

Gibson made two saves on nine shots.

The Central pulled away after that with six consecutive goals.

Nashville defenseman Roman Josi scored on a redirection of a pass from Patrick Kane at 5:08 to make it 3-1, and Kane scored after coming down the wing to make it 4-1 at 5:31.

Jets forward Mark Scheifele went backhand and then forehand before putting the puck under the bar at 6:39 for a 6-1 Central lead. Rantanen followed with his second goal to make it 6-1 at 7:50.

Kane scored his second goal on a 2-on-1 to make it 7-1 at 8:11 of the first.

In the second periood, Landeskog scored on the first shot against Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (six saves), a rising wrist shot that struck where the post and crossbar meet to make it 8-1 at 42 seconds.

O'Reilly made it 9-1 at 2:30, and Landeskog completed his hat trick to make it 10-1 at 4:36.

Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau made it 10-2 with a goal against Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (19 saves) at 4:47.

Gaudreau's father, Guy, was an assistant coach for the Pacific, invited by Peters.

Karlsson scored his second goal, on a give-and-go with Pavelski and Burns to make it 10-3 at 5:52. Burns went top shelf 10 seconds later to make it 10-4 at 6:02.