Jan 24, 2020; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal (13) during the fastest skater competition in the 2020 NHL All Star Game Skills Competition at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
January 25, 2020
New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal ended Connor McDavid’s three-year run as the NHL’s fastest skater, edging the Edmonton Oilers star in the first event of the NHL All-Star Skills on Friday in St. Louis.
Barzal skated a lap in 13.175 seconds, topping McDavid’s 13.215.
“That’s a good time by Barzy,” McDavid said, according to NHL.com. “Tip your hat. That’s it.”
New York Rangers winger Chris Kreider came in third at 13.509, just ahead of Buffalo Sabres center Jack Eichel (13.540) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (13.895).
The St. Louis Blues’ Jordan Binnington, in front of his home fans, won the Save Streak competition in which goalies vying for the longest run of saving skaters’ penalty-shot attempts.
Binnington posted a streak of 10 to top the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy (nine), the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Frederik Andersen (seven), the Washington Capitals’ Braden Holtby (five) and the Vancouver Canucks’ Jacob Markstrom (five).
One of the shots Binnington stopped came from San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl, who was wearing a Justin Bieber mask. Earlier this month, Bieber accepted a challenge from Binnington to oppose him in a competition of 10 penalty shots. The data and site of Bieber vs. Binnington have yet to be determined.
“Everybody loved it, and I can say I was Justin Bieber for a few seconds,” Hertl said.
–Field Level Media
