Pacific team beats Central team 9–6 in Game 2 of NHL All-Star Game
The Pacific team beat the Central team 9–6 in Game 2 of the 2016 NHL All-Star Game in Nashville.
Pacific will now face off against the Atlantic team in the final game to decide an overall winner. The winning team will be awarded $1 million.
This year’s NHL All-Star Game introduced a new tournament format of three 20-minute, 3-on-3 games, rather than the original 60-minute, 5-on-5 game.
Nashville Predators forward James Neal opened up the scoring, shooting one past Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. Neal recorded another goal later in the first period.
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Enforcer John Scott, who was selected to the All-Star game in an online fan vote, scored the Pacific team’s first goal. The captain received a pass from San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns and found the back of the net to tie the game at 1–1. He received a standing ovation.
Scott tallied another goal in the second period, again assisted by Burns when he scored off a breakaway.
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Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane tied the up again just before the second period of play. Kane scored after receiving a pass from Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn to knot the game at 3–3.
Kane then jokingly dropped the gloves to fight Scott.
One of the best saves of the game came from Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson, who robbed Tyler Seguin of a goal with a skate save. The save created a play at the other end, as Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau passed the puck to Edmonton Oilers left winger Taylor Hall for a breakaway goal.
For the Pacific team, Hall recorded two goals, while Canucks winger Daniel Sedin tallied two goals and one assist. Neal led the Central team with an assist and two goals.