The NHL All-Star Game was not played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the game is on for 2022. This year’s NHL All-Star game takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The setup of the game remains the same as it has been since 2016. The All-Star Game features a three-game tournament, played in a 3-on-3 format. Each of the four NHL divisions (Metropolitan, Atlantic, Central and Pacific) ices a team made up of nine skaters and two goalies. Each game will be contested in 20 minutes. The winners of the two “semifinal” rounds go on to face off in the “final.”
- What: 2022 NHL All-Star Game
- When: Saturday, February 5
- Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Watch: ABC, SN, TVAS
Before we look at the picks for the 2022 NHL All-Star Game, be sure to check out the best NHL betting sites as well as the latest odds for the 2022 Stanley Cup.
2022 NHL All-Star Game odds Metropolitan vs. Atlantic
2022 NHL All-Star Game odds Pacific vs. Central
2022 NHL All-Star Game captains and coaches
- Metropolitan Division: Captain – Claude Giroux*, Coach – Rod Brind’Amour
- Atlantic Division: Captain – Auston Matthews, Coach – Andrew Brunette
- Central Division: Captain – Joe Pavelski**, Coach – Jared Bednar
- Pacific Division: Captain – Connor McDavid, Coach – Peter DeBoer
*Giroux replaced Alexander Ovechkin as captain after Ovechkin was forced from the game and placed into COVID-19 protocols.
** Pavelski replaced Nathan MacKinnon as captain due to injury
Metropolitan vs. Atlantic Picks
In the five times the Eastern Conference teams have faced off in the NHL All-Star Game, the Atlantic Division has triumphed over the Metropolitan Division three times. They have alternated wins with the Atlantic coming out on top in 2016 (4-3), 2018 (7-4) and 2020 9-5). The Metropolitan won in 2017 (10-6) and 2019 (7-4).
With the 3-on-3 format of the game, it seems as if the Atlantic Division has a team better built for scoring. Of the top 20 scorers in the NHL right now, four of them are on the Atlantic Division club: Jonathan Huberdeau (64 points), Steven Stamkos (52 points), Auston Matthews (51 points) and Victor Hedman (47 points). The Metropolitan Division has two scorers in the top-20 in points in Chris Kreider (47) and Jake Guentzel (46).
As for netminders, that also breaks in favour of the Atlantic Division, as they have Jack Campbell and Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes. Campbell is fifth in the NHL in save percentage at .925 and Vasilevskiy leads the NHL in wins with 25. The Metropolitan Division has Frederik Andersen and Tristan Jarry in the net. Anderson is No. 2 in goals-against average (2.01) and Jarry is fifth in that statistic at 2.21. However, Campbell and Vasilevskiy are both in the running for the Vezina Trophy.
Pick: Atlantic Division
Pacific vs. Central Picks
The Pacific Division has beaten the Central division in four of the five All-Star Games under the current format: 2016 (9-6), 2017 (10-3), 2018 (5-2) and 2020 (10-5). The one game the Central won was in 2019 (10-4). This year could mark the second win for the Central.
Motivation will be a key to the success of the Central. The division has eight first-time NHL All-Stars on the club, including Colorado Avalanche teammates Cale Makar and Nazem Kadri. I expect that the new experience will give the Central team a big boost on the ice.
The issue the Central faces is the scoring prowess of the Pacific division. The team has three of the top six scorers in the NHL right now in Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau. That is going to put a ton of pressure on the Central goalies, Juuse Saros and Cam Talbot.
I think this game will be closer and more competitive than the Atlantic vs. Metropolitan, but I suspect the scoring power of the Pacific will carry them to victory.
Pick: Pacific Division
Our pick to win the 2022 NHL All-Star Game
The way I see it, the Atlantic Division and the Pacific Division will meet in the final 20-minute game. These two divisions have faced off three times in the final All-Star game. The Pacific has won each of those games: 2016 (1-0), 2018 (5-2), 2020 (5-4). My prediction is the strength of the Atlantic division goaltending will be the difference-maker in this game and give them the win.
Pick: Atlantic Division
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