Saturday, February 4, 2023

Central Beats Pacific

     The Central Division defeated the Pacific Division 6-4 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday. It was the first semifinal contest in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game. 
     The Central Division found the net first. Nathan MacKinnon went on a breakaway and put it in at 3:15 of the first period. Mikko Rantanen made the lead pass to him. 
     The Pacific Division evened it up 1-1 at the 3:48 mark. Erik Karlsson sent a cross-ice pass from the right circle and Connor McDavid scored on a one-time shot from the left of the crease. 
     It became 2-1 for the Central with 3:08 left in the first. Seth Jones put in a wrist shot from the top of the crease on a feed from Vladimir Tarasenko. 
     The Pacific tied it 2-2 with 2:05 to go. Bo Horvat placed a pass from the right circle and Elias Pettersson tapped it in from the crease area.
     MacKinnon compiled his second goal of the contest with 1:21 remaining in the first from the blue paint. Rantanen pushed the puck from the slot area for his second assist of the frame. 
     In the second period, Clayton Keller gave the Central a 4-2 lead at 9:40. Tarasenko was able to send a diagonal feed. 
     The Central increased it to 5-2 with 4:28 to go in the second. Keller released a saucer pass from the right circle and Tarasenko snapped a shot from the left of the crease. 
      The Pacific Division closed it to 5-3 with 3:38 left.  Kevin Fiala connected a long lead pass from his own zone and Pettersson scored on a snap shot from the right circle. Karlsson rifled a shot from the slot area with 2:33 remaining and they trailed 5-4. 
      It became 6-4 for the Central with 1:53 left. Seth Jones made a cross-ice pass and Keller finished off the play. 

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