West defeats East in Skills Challenge Relay

NASHVILLE -- The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference in the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skills Challenge Relay competition at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday.
The timed relay event involved 14 skaters and two goalies from each team and consisted of four relays with five challenges each: One Timers, with three shooters and one passer per team; Passing, with one passer per team; Puck Control, with one skater per team; Stick-Handling, with one skater per team; and Goalie Goals, with one goalie per team.

Each skill had to be completed before moving on to the next challenge with the exception of one timers, passing and goalie goals in which a maximum of 45 seconds was allocated. The goal was to finish all five challenges faster than the opponent.
The Western group of Calgary Flames defenseman Mark Giordano, Nashville Predators forward James Neal, St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko, Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn, Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin and Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk finished with the best time of 1:27.687.
In the first heat, the East defeated the West by a time of 1:38.410 to 2:15.371. The East group consisted of Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad, Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos, Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, Philadelphia Flyers forward Claude Giroux and Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby.
The West countered with Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber, Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry, Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin, Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau, Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne.