NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Detroit Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin made quite the debut in his first All-Star weekend, winning not only the title of fastest skater at this event but setting the record for the fastest lap around a full rink.
Larkin easily beat Predators defenseman Roman Josi on the first lap of the first event Saturday night at the NHL skills competition at 12.894 seconds. That time easily stood to win the fastest skater. He then skated a full lap in just 13.172 seconds despite a bobble in turn three.
That gave the 19-year-old Larkin the record for the fastest lap around the full rink, topping Mike Gartner's time of 13.386 seconds in 1996.
Hometown favorite Predators captain Shea Weber won the hardest shot at 108.3 miles per hour.
The Eastern Conference won the skills competition 29-12, giving John Tavares and Jaromir Jagr the choice as captains of which period to play their semifinal game Sunday in the All-Star Game. They chose the first period for the 3-on-3 competition. Tavares, captain of the Metropolitan Division, said they had to give Jagr a chance to rest as captain of the Atlantic Division.
"If we win, we get more rest," Jagr said. "If we lose, I can fly home right away. I'm sorry, Nashville. I'm honest."
P.K. Subban won the one event — breakaway — decided by fans voting by Twitter, edging out Sharks defenseman Brent Burns. Tavares of the New York Islanders won the accuracy event in 12.2 seconds. The West won the skills challenge relay, and the East finished off the shootout.
Etc.
• NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman insisted Seattle is not in the running to land an expansion team. "If someone wanted to give us an application right now, we wouldn't take it," Bettman said Saturday at his state-of-the-league news conference. Las Vegas and Quebec City have submitted expansion applications, but a decision whether to grant both, either or neither city an NHL franchise does not appear to be imminent.
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