It'll be the battle of the oceans in the All-Star Game final.
The Pacific Division team will take on the representatives of the Atlantic Division in the winner-take-all matchup after beating the Central Division squad 10-5 in the second semifinal of Saturday's three-on-three tournament.
Calgary Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl, and rookie blue-liner Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks led the way for the Pacific with four points apiece. Flames goaltender David Rittich shut the door in the second of two periods, stopping nine of 10 shots.
Tkachuk and Draisaitl teamed up on multiple goals, displaying natural on-ice chemistry despite some ongoing animosity between their respective clubs. Tkachuk laid out Oilers enforcer Zack Kassian with a pair of big hits during a game between Calgary and Edmonton earlier in January. Kassian pummelled Tkachuk with several punches to the head following the second hit, earning a two-game suspension.
Draisaitl had said he "would probably get off the ice" if he had to play with Tkachuk at the All-Star Game. Though that didn't happen, the two players didn't celebrate goals together, going their separate ways instead.
Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.