Atkinson, Simmonds lead Metro Division to 2017 NHL All-Star Game victory

LOS ANGELES – Goals from Cam Atkinson and Wayne Simmonds five seconds apart and a smart challenge by head coach Wayne Gretzky helped lift the Metropolitan Division to a 4-3 win over the Pacific Division in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game final.

The game went back and forth but the tide turned in the in the final period when Ryan Kesler appeared to double the Pacific Division’s lead to 4-2. Gretzky threw a Hail Mary in trying to keep his team in the game by calling for a coach’s challenge, saying that Connor McDavid was offside on their zone entry leading to the goal.

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Sure enough, The Great One was right and the goal was called back.

Minutes later, Atkinson scored his second of the game on a breakaway to tie the score at three. Taylor Hall won the ensuing face-off and immediately set up a 2-on-1 with Simmonds to give the Metropolitan Division the lead for good and also the $1 million prize.

Simmonds, a former Los Angeles King, was named MVP with three goals on the afternoon in front of the STAPLES Center crowd.

In the two earlier games, the Metropolitan Division advanced with a 10-6 win over the Atlantic Division. Atkinson and John Tavares each recorded four points and Braden Holtby played a solid 10 minutes in goal making 12 saves, including this glove stop in front on Brad Marchand:

The crowd-favorite Pacific Division beat the Central 10-3 thanks to a pair of goals from Johnny Gaudreau and good goaltending from Martin Jones and Mike Smith. Every player on the Pacific contributed at least a goal in the semifinal victory.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy