Vancouver Canucks rookie forward Brock Boeser was named most valuable player of the All-Star Game. He had a goal and an assist in the final and scored the game-winning goal against the Central.
For being named MVP, Boeser received a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. He is the second rookie in NHL history to win the award (Mario Lemieux, 1985).
The Pacific is 2-1 in final games since the NHL went to the 3-on-3 format at the 2016 All-Star Game in Nashville. The Pacific lost to the Metropolitan Division 4-3 in the final last year in Los Angeles, but defeated the Atlantic 1-0 in Nashville.
"In the first game, you kind of mess around a little bit, guys aren't shooting the puck, they're trying to make pretty sauce passes," Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. "But we were playing in the final for a big chunk of money so we were like, 'We might as well give 'er.' We did give 'er."
Anaheim Ducks forward Rickard Rakell had three points on two goals and an assist. Doughty, Boeser and Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau each had a goal and an assist. Kings center Anze Kopitar had two assists.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green scored two goals for the Atlantic. Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand had two assists.
"The only thing that probably didn't fall our way was the Atlantic didn't win," said Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, who coached the Atlantic. "But other than that, it was an unbelievable event."
Gaudreau extended the Pacific's lead to 4-1 at 1:52 of the second period when he squeezed a shot between Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price's pads despite skating with a black string that came off of Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel's jersey and got stuck in his skates.
"Jack's jersey was stretched out along the ice and I ran into it," Gaudreau said. "It must have got caught in my feet and Brock is like, 'Johnny, be careful, be careful.' I was like, 'What?' He told me to look at my skates after I scored. It was a weird part of the game."
Green cut the lead to 4-2 with his second goal at 3:26. Rakell scored his second at 7:24 to bring the lead up to 5-2.
"It was fun," Gaudreau said. "Big win. It's not the only cash, it gets competitive. It's the 3-on-3 format and we were pretty excited."
Doughty gave the Pacific a 3-1 lead at 8:35 of the first period with a one-timer from above the hash marks off a pass from Kopitar.
The Atlantic had a one-minute power play 14 seconds later, but couldn't score. Gaudreau went to the box for tripping Marchand, who faked an injury and then mimicked searching for blood on his face.
"You didn't see? I needed like six stitches," Marchand joked. "I thought I sold it pretty good."
Gaudreau said he didn't see Marchand's reaction.
"Hopefully he's not hurt too serious," Gaudreau said, laughing.
Gaudreau was also surprised because he's obviously not known for being penalty-prone; he has 10 penalty minutes in 48 games this season and 48 across 281 games in his NHL career.
"It was a trip, which is ironic because I don't get many penalties during the season," Gaudreau said. "I try to stay out of the box and I feel like it's the hardest to get a penalty here [in the All-Star Game]. But it's fun and it's part of the game."
Rakell scored 59 seconds into the first period and Boeser made it 2-0 at 5:05. Green scored the Atlantic's lone goal of the first at 6:08.
"You have to embrace it," Marchand said. "It's such a cool weekend to be here."
