The Atlantic Division won the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday and opted to face the Metropolitan Division in the second semifinal. The Pacific Division will play the Central Division in the opening game of the tournament. The two winners will advance to the final to determine the overall tournament champion.
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for rosters by division.
... GRETZKY STEPS IN AS COACH OF METROPOLITAN DIVISION
The NHL announced that Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky will serve as coach of the Metropolitan Division for the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game in place of Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella.
"The League came to me [Friday] night and said, 'Would you like to coach?' and I said, 'Sure,'" Gretzky said. "Playing in the All-Star Game is a privilege and a pleasure, and the chance to be around it and part of it [today] ... I'm excited and I'm really looking forward to it."
ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVAILS IN NHL ALL-STAR SKILLS COMPETITION
The Atlantic Division defeated the Pacific Division, 4-1, in the Discover NHL Shootout to win the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition and earn the right to select both its first opponent and when its semifinal matchup will be played during the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game.
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for a full recap.
Among the highlights:
* Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith
scored from the far goal line
in the Honda NHL Four Line Challenge.
* Edmonton Oilers and Pacific Division captain Connor McDavid
skated a 13.02-second lap
to win the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater.
* Ryker Kesler, the son of Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Kesler,
slipped the puck
by Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price in the Discover NHL Shootout.
TEAM GRETZKY WINS NHL ALL-STAR CELEBRITY SHOOTOUT
Justin Bieber scored a goal and two points, and Cuba Gooding Jr. scored the decisive goal, to guide Team Gretzky past Team Lemieux in the 2017 NHL All-Star Celebrity Shootout, a charity game featuring 21 members from the recently announced 100 Greatest NHL Players presented by Molson Canadian.
The game benefited Echoes of Hope, a nonprofit organization founded by Luc and Stacia Robitaille that strives to inspire hope in the lives of at-risk and emancipated foster youth.
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for a complete recap, including highlights.