Metropolitan defeats Pacific in first 2022 NHL All-Star Game semifinal

LAS VEGAS -- Jack Hughes scored two goals for the Metropolitan Division when it defeated the Pacific Division 6-4 in the first semifinal of the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday.

The Metropolitan Division will play in the All-Star Game final for the $1 million prize against the Central Division, which defeated the Atlantic Division 8-5 in the second semifinal.

It's the third time the Metropolitan will play in the final in the six All-Star Games under this format, having won it in 2017 and 2019.

Hughes put the Metropolitan in front 4-3 with 3:44 remaining in the second period.

Jake Guentzel and Claude Giroux each had a goal and an assist for the Metropolitan. Frederik Andersen made six saves on seven shots in the first period before he was replaced by Tristan Jarry (five saves) in the second.

Peter DeBoer, the Pacific coach and coach of the hometown Vegas Golden Knights, started Vegas forwards Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.

Marchessault, Stone and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist for the Pacific. John Gibson made 10 saves in the first period before he was replaced by Thatcher Demko (10 saves).

Tom Wilson gave the Metropolitan a 1-0 lead 13 seconds into the first.

Meier tied it 1-1 at 2:27 from the right face-off circle.

Giroux gave the Metropolitan a 2-1 lead from in close at 3:08 before Sebastian Aho scored 12 seconds later for a 3-1 lead at 3:20.

Marchessault cut it to 3-2 on a one-timer at 2:57 of the second.

Jordan Eberle tied it 3-3 on a breakaway at 4:27 with the first goal by a Seattle Kraken player in All-Star Game history. The Kraken began play this season.

Guentzel scored with 2:20 left to make it 5-3, and Hughes scored into an empty net 1:09 remaining to make it 6-3.

Stone cut it to 6-4 with 22 seconds left.