Around the NHL: Feb. 5

Story posted February 6, 2023 in CommRadio, Sports by Adrianna Gallucci

Did you think you were going to read another mundane article recapping the week in the NHL? False. Throw on your bathing suits, grab your sunglasses and don’t forget your sunblock. Welcome to Sunrise, Florida.

Here’s this week’s NHL recap, All-Star Game style:

Bo Horvat Traded to New York Islanders

On Monday, January 30, Bo Horvat was traded by the Vancouver Canucks to the New York Islanders in exchange for Anthony Beauvillier and Aatu Raty, as well as a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 Draft.

Horvat has 31 goals in 49 games this season with Vancouver, but the Canucks are also a team going through a lot of turmoil and change, especially in their coaching staff.

Here’s another issue: Horvat was selected as the Canucks’s lone All-Star but is now in a completely different division. Horvat wore the Western jersey in the three-on-three competition and the Islanders reverse retro in the skills competition.

Skills Competition

The NHL debuted three new skills at this year’s game in Florida.

The Splash Shot and Pitch ‘N Puck were celebrated well in their debut, but the Tendy Tandem was a bit confusing for viewers to follow. Of course, the classic events were there, as well. 

Here’s how things went:

Splash Shot - Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar

Pitch ‘N Puck - Nick Suzuki

Tendy Tandem - Connor Hellebuyck and Juuse Saros

Fastest Skater - Andrei Svechnikov

Hardest Shot - Elias Pettersson

Accuracy Shooting - Brock Nelson

Breakaway Challenge - Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby (with Sergei Ovechkin)

Atlantic Wins the All-Star Game

The Atlantic Division took home the All-Star Game Victory 7-5 over the Central Division.

MVP Matthew Tkachuk had a seven-point day and earned himself MVP for the game. Dylan Larkin had a hat trick, Mitch Marner had two assists and Cale Makar also had two assists in the final game.

Additionally, Makar, Clayton Keller, Jason Robertson, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen also all scored in the final.

This is the Atlantic’s first win after switching to the NHL “Threes” style, and the eleven players on the roster will split the $1 million prize.

2024 All-Star Game to be Held in Toronto

After time in sunny Florida, the 2024 All-Star Game will head up north to Toronto for next year’s game.

Commissioner Gary Bettman, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan and Leafs player Mitch Marner made the announcement before the Florida game.

With Toronto being an Original Six team and the game being hosted in Canada, the 2024 classic is sure to bring in great numbers for the league.

Adrianna Gallucci is a first-year student majoring in journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.