Metropolitan Division vs. Atlantic Division
The 64th NHL All-Star Game is set for Saturday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and the Pacific Division - with three Sharks - will be circling as they try for their third victory in four tries since the 3-on-3 format was implemented. San Jose will be represented by center Joe Pavelski, who is on pace to record a career-high 43 goals, and offensive-minded defensemen Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson, with the latter out of regular-season action (lower body) but expected to participate.
"I'm proud that we've got three guys," Sharks general manager Doug Wilson told reporters. "We could probably have four or five guys. But I think it's an event that our fans get to see the great players in this league, and they deserve that." The star power is strong in all divisions but the Metropolitan will be without Washington's Alex Ovechkin (league-leading 37 goals), who announced earlier this month that he will not play and will face an NHL-mandated one-game suspension for the Capitals first game back from the break. Each division uses nine skaters and two goaltenders in a single-elimination tournament that was won by the Pacific in 2016 and 2018, and the Metropolitan in 2017. The Central meets the Pacific in the first 20-minute semifinal followed by the Metropolitan against the Atlantic, with the winning divisions playing another 20 minutes for a winner-take-all $1 million.
TV: 9:15 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, Sportsnet, TVA
ABOUT THE METROPOLITAN DIVISION: Washington coach Todd Reirdon's unit took a big hit with the defection of Ovechkin but the cupboard isn't bare with players such as two-time Hart Trophy winner Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh. The club, though, seems to lack the firepower that other divisions have as Columbus' Cam Atkinson is the only player among the top 10 in scoring (tied for ninth with 27 goals) while Crosby and Carolina's Sebastian Aho are the highest point-getters with 57 apiece (tied for 14th). The defending Stanley Cup champion Capitals will feature defenseman John Carlson (fourth among blueliners with 47 points) and goaltender Braden Holtby.
ABOUT THE ATLANTIC DIVISION: League-best Tampa Bay has a strong influence with coach Jon Cooper, and Nikita Kucherov (NHL-most 78 points), Steven Stamkos (26 goals) and replacement goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Montreal goalie Carey Price will not participate, meaning the Canadiens will be the only team not represented Saturday, and like Ovechkin will absorb a one-game suspension. Buffalo's Jeff Skinner (tied for second with 30 goals) and Boston's David Pastrnak (27) add plenty of punch to a potent unit that also includes Toronto's Auston Matthews and John Tavares.