The NHL’s biggest stars will come out to shine for the first time in two years when they gather in Las Vegas for this season’s edition of NHL All-Star Weekend on Sunday, February 5. The league was forced to cancel last season’s All-Star extravaganza due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and doubts have lingered as to whether this season’s event would even take place. But with the NHL electing to not send players to next month’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, the league has firmly fixed the spotlight on the annual showcase of its biggest and most beloved stars.
CanadianBettingSites has got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of this season’s NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Sports bettors looking to get in on NHL action for the first time can learn all they need to know about hockey betting in Canada.
| NHL All-Star Game Odds |  |  | |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Division | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Metropolitan Division | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Central Division | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Pacific Division | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
NHL All-Star Game History
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the NHL’s first All-Star Game in 1947, which pitted the defending Stanley Cup champion Toronto Maple Leafs against a team of all-stars from across the rest of the league in a charity matchup at Maple Leaf Gardens. The All-Star Game has evolved significantly since its humble beginnings.
Footage from the first ever NHL All-Star game in 1947. (Yes, punches were thrown 😂) pic.twitter.com/6M29xMR0Gu
— GordiesElbow (@IceOffs) November 23, 2021
The game shifted to a clash of division and conference rivals in the wake of the league’s expansion to 12 teams in 1967, while also experimenting with a variety of unusual formats. Those included pitting players from North America against players from the rest of the world in the late 90s, and also used a fantasy draft style that briefly gained widespread popularity.
January 18th-On This Day in BC Sport History: 1998
The 48th NHL All-Star Game takes place at Vancouver’s GM Place. The @Canucks Mark Messier scores the game-winning goal in an 8-7 victory for the North America All-Stars over the World All-Stars. @TeemuSel8nne of the World…/2 pic.twitter.com/llc11TZdZ3
— Jason D Beck (@JasonBeck82) January 18, 2022
Since 2016, teams from each of the four NHL divisions have participated in a 3-on-3 single-elimination tournament that features three mini-games, each lasting 20 minutes, with the last team standing crowned as champions.
Avs, Lightning Well Represented
Once again, the fans have had the biggest say in selecting team rosters by casting online votes for their favourite player from each division. Not surprisingly, the Colorado Avalanche are one of just two teams that will be represented by three players at this year’s event. Colorado leads the league in goals scored per game by a wide margin. The Avalanche also lead a tight four-way race atop the Stanley Cup odds, sitting just ahead of the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, who will also be sending three players to Vegas.
The 2022 NHL All-Star game rosters are now complete after it was announced Nazem Kadri earned the “last man in” vote for the Central Division. The Colorado Avalanche now will have four members representing the organization in Las Vegas including Nathanhttps://t.co/qCTWLMehVm
— Shop COL Hockey (@ShopCOLHockey) January 19, 2022
Most notable among the players joining Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Nazem Kadri on this season’s Central Division squad are reigning Rookie of the Year winner Kirill Kaprizov and Dallas Stars veteran Joe Pavelski. Kaprizov has picked up where he left off last season, potting 44 points through his first 34 games, and is a huge reason why the Minnesota Wild remain in striking distance of the top of the division standings. The Pacific Division squad is anchored by the Edmonton Oilers’ dynamic duo of Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, and are joined by Vegas Golden Knights stars Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo, who will enjoy the support of hometown fans.
Nylander, Crosby Among Notable Absentees
Over in the Eastern Conference, Steve Stamkos joins Lightning teammates Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilevskiy on the Atlantic Division squad. The Toronto Maple Leafs are also well represented by Auston Matthews, who will wear the C, and netminder Jack Campbell. However, Toronto’s William Nylander has earned the title of the biggest snubbed player after being overlooked by the fans in voting.
Players that weren’t named to the 2022 NHL All-Star Game or the “Last Man In” ballot:
Sidney Crosby
Artemi Panarin
Igor Shesterkin
Brad Marchand
Aaron Ekblad
William Nylander
Morgan Rielly
Matt Duchene
Vladimir Tarasenko
Anze Kopitar
Quinn Hughes— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 14, 2022
The Metropolitan Division lineup is most notable for the players it is missing. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been left off this year’s roster, along with New York’s Artemi Panarin and Igor Shesterkin. Alexander Ovechkin has been named the captain of the Metro Division squad, but won’t enjoy the benefit of playing alongside long-time teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Take the OVER
As the NHL All-Star Game transitioned from a serious contest to a showcase of top talent during the 1970s and 1980s, goal-scoring has skyrocketed. Indeed, in the six editions of the NHL All-Star Game prior to the move to its current 3-on-3 tournament format, the two teams involved scored an average of 21.7 goals per game.
In case you’re wondering: The most goals in an #NHL All-Star Game is 26, set in 2001 when Team North America beat Team World 14-12.
— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) January 25, 2015
That trend has continued, with each of the three mini-games played at the 2020 NHL All-Star Game producing an average of 12.66 goals. And there is no reason to expect that to change this time around. As a result, the single best bet that sports bettors should make is taking the OVER on each of the three mini-matchups.
Best Bets: Take the OVER, regardless of the number
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