After showing off his best Zach Galifianakis impression in the Breakaway Challenge last night, Blackhawks All-Star Alex DeBrincat and the Central Division were trying to break their poor stretch of play in NHL All-Star 3v3 tournament history. Going 1-5 in the pervious five years, the Central Division took care of the Atlantic Division in the opening game, but fell in the Final to the Metropolitan Division.
In the opening game against the Atlantic Division, the Central got out to the opening lead when St. Louis’ Jordan Kyrou scored on a 3-on-0 breakaway with DeBrincat registering the secondary assist on the play. Later in the opening half, DeBrincat scored his first goal as an NHL All-Star to give the Central the 2-1 lead!
Goal and an assist already for DeBrincat!#Blackhawks #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/aqoNxvCK59
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 5, 2022
Thanks to Minnesota net-minder Cam Talbot, the Central held a 3-2 lead into the second half of the opening matchup.
https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1490078237350932489?s=20&t=cFX5ZRefAxDIo3QM8WQnJg
DeBrincat nearly recorded his second goal of the game in the second half of the opening matchup, but the puck was swept away from behind Toronto goaltender Jack Campbell with just inches to spare.
THIS STAYED OUT?! HOW? 😱
Jack Campbell shuts down DeBrincat on the breakaway #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/gTmwrKE1RP
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 5, 2022
Moments later, Kyrou netted his second of the game to give the Central a 5-3 lead. After an offsides review took the 7-5 goal off the board for the Central, it was DeBrincat netting his second of the game to give the Central the actual 7-5 lead late in the second half!
Three-point game for DeBrincat as the Central beats the Atlantic 8-5!#Blackhawks #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/PFU9QvGK6x
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 5, 2022
Playing in the NHL All-Star 3v3 tournament final for the second time, the Central Division faced the two-time tournament-winning Metropolitan Division. The Metropolitan Division took a 4-2 first-half lead highlighted by Jack Hughes’ third goal of the tournament late in the half. DeBrincat nearly cut the Metro’s lead to 5-4 late in the second half, but the goal was reviewed (seriously) and was disallowed for offsides. Ultimately the final score would be in favor of the Metropolitan Division 5-3, winning their third NHL All-Star 3v3 tournament and splitting the Million-Dollar prize money.
Philadelphia Flyers Captain Called Giroux, making his seventh NHL All-Star appearance, was named the tournament’s MVP.
Metro wins All-Star 5-3 over the Central. Claude Giroux is MVP
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 5, 2022
It wasn’t the end he was hoping for, but you definitely can say the Alex DeBrincat made the most of his first of hopefully a lot of NHL All-Star appearances with Chicago. The Blackhawks will next be in action on February 9 when their schedule resumes on the road in Edmonton taking on the Oilers.