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The 2024 NHL All-Star Game is in Toronto, showcasing the league at what’s essentially the halfway point of the season.
The league office and the players have gone back and forth as to the best format of the event, with both a skills competition and a 3-.vs.-3 format after a player draft this past Thursday.
(Regarding the players, participation of the NHL in the 2026 and 2030 Olympics has been set.)
There will be four hand-selected teams competing in the Saturday game, according to NHL All-Star Game odds. Here’s a look at the first two pairings…
Team MacKinnon (Ev) vs. Team McDavid (-120)
First on the ice at the competition are Team (Nathan) MacKinnon and Team (Connor) McDavid. Both are loaded with the best players in the league, with two of the elites leading the way..
MacKinnon, second in the league with 84 points, has his Colorado Avalanche teammate, defenseman Cale Makar, on the roster, along with ‘Lanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev.
MacKinnon also chose some other Nova Scotian named Sidney Crosby, making a 10th appearance in this game/event. Team MacKinnon is currently the ‘dog, albeit at even-money.
It’s no surprise Team McDavid has another Edmonton Oiler stalwart in Leon Draisaitl;.It will also feature Florida Panthers’ Sam Reinhart (37 goals) and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.
McDavid’s squad is the t-this-writing -120 favorite.
Team Hughes/Hughes (+110) vs. Team Matthews (-130)
Youngsters Quinn (Vancouver Canucks) and Jack (New Jersey Devils) Hughes have a tough challenge, as the hometown hero, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs (league-leading 40 goals) has chosen a number of his running mates to create some havoc.
Mitchell Marner, Morgan Rielly and William Nylander are all familiar with Matthews, as are the Scotiabank fanbase of the Leafs. Expect some set plays, which won’t please opposing goalies.
Team Hughes proved their no dummies, selecting Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov and his league-leading 85 points. Quinn Hughes made sure to grab four other Canucks, including sniper Brock Boeser and goalie Thatcher Demko. Vancouver and Boston lead the league (71 points).
Take the chalk in these events. Expect Teams McDavid and Matthewsto prevail, the final going to the Albertans.
Selecting the Skilled
There are individual wagers in play as well Friday evening, as per NHL skills competition odds. Categories include Connor McDavid (+600) is the overall favorite to win the title, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews and David Pasternak all at +500 in the one-timers, and Elias Pettersson (even-money) to have the hardest shot in that competition.
- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
