Big goalie, little kid dominate All-Star Skills Competition
LOS ANGELES — Big Mike Smith and little Ryker Kesler stole the show at the NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
The towering Arizona goalie scored a 188-foot goal during the Four Line Challenge on Saturday night, and the 6-year-old son of Anaheim Ducks centre Ryan Kesler scored on Montreal goalie Carey Price during the Shootout.
The Atlantic Division won the overall competition and chose to face the Metropolitan Division on Sunday in the second semifinal period of the All-Star Game, which was changed last year to a 3-on-3 tournament among teams from each of the NHL’s four divisions.
NHL scoring leader Connor McDavid won the Fastest Skater competition, and Montreal defenceman Shea Weber had the hardest shot in the All-Star field for the third consecutive season, albeit with his lowest speed yet. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby won the Accuracy Shooting competition, and he joined Weber and Boston’s Brad Marchand as the only adults to score in the shootout.