Nelson of Islanders wins Accuracy Shooting at All-Star Skills

SUNRISE, Fla. -- It's been a pretty enjoyable few days for Brock Nelson at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Weekend.

On Thursday, the New York Islanders center got to meet new teammate and fellow All-Star Bo Horvat, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for forwards Anthony Beauvillier and
Aatu Raty
and a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
On Friday, Nelson was enjoying some individual accolades, winning the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook at FLA Live Arena. Nelson defeated Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames in the final round, hitting all four targets in 12.419 seconds and winning $30,000.
Ten players participated in the event, with each taking shots at four targets located at the corners of the net 25 feet away.
"There was a lot of talk early, guys were going, 'What was the best route?' I was going low left, low right, upper left, upper right. Just kind of stuck with that," Nelson said of his strategy.
"It was fun, it was cool to win that, not really knowing what to expect. Just go out and have a good time. It's something I'll remember, for sure."
Nelson was one of four to make the semifinals out of the preliminary round, with Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (9.497 seconds), Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers (13.235) and Kadri (13.459). In the semifinals and final, two players shot into two nets positioned side-by-side.
"Yeah, it was a little bit different," Nelson said. "It was kind of fun, maybe added to the excitement for fans, being able to kind of see both sides right there. I didn't really know what to expect but I liked that format. It was pretty fun."

Outside of Accuracy Shooting, Nelson has spent the past two days getting to know Horvat. He said he and his wife, Karley, got together with Horvat and his wife, Holly, on Thursday following a media session in Fort Lauderdale.
"Just to kind of check in, see how it's going. It sounds like a pretty chaotic time for him, being on break, traded, kids and a move across the country," Nelson said. "You just want to go over and offer any kind of support if they need it and welcome them."
Horvat had 54 points (31 goals, 23 assists) in 49 games with the Canucks this season. He's seven points shy of the career-high 61 he scored with the Canucks in 2018-19. The Islanders (25-22-5) will come out of the break two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Nelson's excited to start the stretch run, and to see how Horvat helps them.
"I know he's going to be a big part of our team for a long time," Nelson said. "He's going to help our team make a run here, for sure."
RESULTS
FINAL
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders, 12.419 seconds
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames, 18.276
SEMIFINAL
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders, 17.886
Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers, DNF
SEMIFINAL
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames, 10.131
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 10.612
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers, 9.497
Brock Nelson, New York Islanders, 12.126
Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers, 13.235
Nazem Kadri, Calgary Flames, 13.459
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning, 18.147
Kevin Hayes, Philadelphia Flyers, 22.377
Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues, 25.062
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers, 25.297
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils, 32.324
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers, 36.956