The NHL's All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday in Nashville featured "several laughter- and applause-inducing moments" in an event won by the Eastern Conference, according to Adam Vingan of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Predators RW James Neal for his second attempt in the Breakaway Challenge "raced to the bench," where out stepped country musician Dierks Bentley in a Predators jersey "completing an odd-man rush with Neal to the delight of the lively crowd." Avalanche C Matt Duchene and Capitals C Evgeny Kuznetsov "sported cowboy hats during their Breakaway Challenge attempts," and Predators G Pekka Rinne "traded his stick for an acoustic guitar." Canadiens LW John Scott, who on Sunday was named All-Star Game MVP, "received one of the loudest ovations during the pre-event introductions," though Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane "being heartily booed right before him accentuated the cheers." Sharks D Brent Burns "utilized his son and poked fun at himself by donning a Chewbacca mask during his Breakaway Challenge attempts." That was "only outdone" by Canadiens D P.K. Subban impersonating Panthers RW Jaromir Jagr, "complete with mullet wig" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/31). In Las Vegas, Steve Carp wrote it was "all about having fun Saturday night," as the participants were "relaxed and enjoying themselves." Subban said that he wore Jagr's mullet wig as a way "to honor the future Hall of Famer." Subban: "I just came up with it when I got to the rink. It was a tribute to Jaromir. He's meant so much to the game" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/31). Oilers LW Taylor Hall said of the skills competition, "Sometimes it can be a little bit corny, but tonight it was fun" (SI.com, 1/31).
FATHER-SON BONDING: TSN.ca's Frank Seravalli wrote the families of Burns and Sharks C Joe Pavelski "stole the show in the best-ever breakaway contest, which showcased the creativity of the NHL's brightest stars." All 17,006 fans inside Bridgestone Arena roared as four-year-old Jagger Burns "danced in front of the cameras and threw down his gloves to the ice, showing as much personality" as his father. Jagger Burns, along with five-year-old Nathan Pavelski, "paraded through the jovial All-Stars for celebratory high-fives" (TSN.ca, 1/30). SI.com's Alex Prewitt noted Saturday night will "forever belong to characters" like Jagger Burns, defying dad’s orders after "scoring in the breakaway challenge." Brent Burns said of himself, Jagger and the Pavelskis, "The plan was ... if you score and then the puck goes in, we're going to celebrate then get a nice little picture together, the four of us. Then both kids went their opposite ways, shed the mitts. That was not a routine" (SI.com, 1/31).
ARE WE HAVING FUN YET? THE HOCKEY NEWS' Matt Larkin wrote "fun," the one word "not uttered enough" in hockey these days, "triumphed" on Saturday. The players "embraced the continuously joyous, friendly culture of Music City and delivered one hefty dose of pizzazz after another." Nashville’s edition "produced something we haven’t seen before: almost universal buy-in." Subban said, "At the end of the day, the good thing is seeing players being happy and excited to want to do something new and fresh. It’s not about winning your event. It’s about providing the best entertainment for the fans." Larkin added the event was all a "refreshing reminder of what the all-star weekend is really about." The fans "wanted fun, and they got it in spades, because the players really cared
(THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/30).
