Central topples Pacific behind MacKinnon, Keller

SUNRISE, Fla. --Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and three assists for the Central Division, which advanced to the final of the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game with a 6-4 win against the Pacific Division in the first semifinal at FLA Live Arena on Saturday.

The Central will play the Atlantic Division, which defeated the Metropolitan Division 10-6 in the second semifinal, in the final.
Clayton Keller had two goals and an assist, Seth Jones had a goal and two assists, and Nathan MacKinnon scored twice for the Central, which won for the second time in six games against the Pacific since the NHL adopted the current All-Star Game format in 2016. Connor Hellebuyck allowed two goals on nine shots in the first period, and Juuse Saros made 12 saves in the second.
Elias Pettersson scored two goals, Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist, and Kevin Fiala had two assists for the Pacific. Logan Thompson and Stuart Skinner each allowed three goals on seven shots.
MacKinnon put the Central ahead 1-0 at 3:15 of the first period, scoring five-hole on Thompson on a breakaway.
Connor McDavid scored 33 seconds later to tie it 1-1 when he tapped in a pass from Karlsson at the left post on a 2-on-1.
Pettersson thought he gave the Pacific a 2-1 lead at 5:49, but Central coach Peter DeBoer challenged the play for offside, and the call was reversed after a video review.
Jones then put the Central in front 2-1 at 6:52. He took the puck away from Troy Terry and scored off a return pass from Tarasenko.
Pettersson scored an official goal to tie it 2-2 at 7:55. He converted a one-timer off a 2-on-1 with former Vancouver Canucks teammate Bo Horvat, who was traded to the New York Islanders on Monday.
MacKinnon responded for the Central to make it 3-2 at 8:38. He gave the puck to Colorado Avalanche teammate Mikko Rantanen (two assists), cut toward the net, and tapped in a backdoor pass at the right post.
Keller scored 18 seconds into the second period to make it 4-2. He took a pass from Tarasenko on a 2-on-1, cut back across the crease, and roofed a backhand over Skinner.
Keller then set up Tarasenko for a one-timer on a 2-on-1 to extend the lead to 5-2 at 5:32.
Pettersson scored his second goal on a shot from the right circle to get the Pacific to within 5-3 at 6:22.
Karlsson cut it 5-4 at 7:27, going bar down on a shot from the top of the right circle, but Keller converted a cross-crease pass from Jones at 8:07 for the 6-4 final.