Larkin skates fastest lap in All-Star skills history

Nashville, Tenn. — Detroit Red Wings rookie Dylan Larkin made quite the debut in his first All-Star weekend, winning not only the title of fastest skater at this event but setting the record for the fastest lap around a full rink.

Larkin easily beat Predators defenseman Roman Josi on the first lap of the first event Saturday night at the NHL skills competition at 12.894 seconds. That time easily stood to win the fastest skater. He then skated a full lap in just 13.172 seconds despite a bobble in turn three.

That gave the 19-year-old Larkin the record for the fastest lap around the full rink, topping Mike Gartner’s time of 13.386 seconds in 1996.

Hometown favorite Predators captain Shea Weber won the hardest shot at 108.3 mph.

The Eastern Conference won the skills competition 29-12, giving John Tavares and Jaromir Jagr the choice as captains of which period to play their semifinal game Sunday in the All-Star Game. They chose the first period for the 3-on-3 competition. Tavares, captain of the Metropolitan Division, said they had to give Jagr a chance to rest as captain of the Atlantic Division.

Larkin kicked off the night in record fashion. The rookie might have been even faster, but he said he dug in too hard and skated too fast, causing him trouble with his footing in the turn. Asked about topping Gartner’s mark, Larkin had a quick question in response: “Was I born?”

No, Larkin was born in July 1996, months after Gartner set his mark at the age of 36.

“Yeah, I did find that out later,” Larkin said. “It’s crazy.”

He also took part in the shootout challenge, scoring twice on Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.

Larkin, 19, is attending his first NHL All-Star game. The Waterford Township native is third among rookies in scoring with 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points.

NHL ALL-STAR SKILLS RESULTS

FASTEST SKATER

EC=Eastern Conference

WC=Western Conference

Race 1

Dylan Larkin, DET, EC, 12.894 seconds

Roman Josi, NSH, WC, 13.527

Race 2

Brandon Saad, CBJ, EC, 13.634

Matt Duchene, COL, WC, 14.026

Race 3

Erik Karlsson, OTT, EC, 14.630

Taylor Hall, EDM, WC, 13.654

Race 4

Kris Letang, PIT, EC, 14.081

Dustin Byfuglien, WPG, WC, 14.203

Bonus Point: Dylan Larkin, DET, 12.894 seconds. Additional Bonus: Larkin breaks Mike Gartner's record for one lap (outside course) -- 13.172 seconds.

Team Scoring: Eastern Conference 5, Western Conference 1

BREAKAWAY CHALLENGE

Eastern Conference

Skater 1, Brandon Saad, CBJ

Skater 2, Evgeny Kuznetsov, WSH

Skater 3, P.K. Subban, MTL (1st – 31 %)

Goalie, Pekka Rinne, NSH

Western Conference

Skater 1, James Neal, NSH (3rd – 20%)

Skater 2, Matt Duchene, COL

Skater 3, Brent Burns, SJS (2nd – 28%)

Goalie, Cory Schneider

Winning player, P.K. Subban, 31% of Twitter vote

Team scoring, Eastern Conference 1, Western Conference 0

ACCURACY SHOOTING

Race 1

John Tavares, NYI, EC, 12.294 seconds

Patrick Kane, CHI, WC, 20.000

Race 2

Patrice Bergeron, BOS, EC, 23.362

Joe Pavelski, SJS, WC, 14.088

Race 3

Claude Giroux, PHI, EC, 17.254

Corey Perry, ANA, WC, 13.771

Race 4

Evgeni Malkin, PIT, EC, 16.179

Jamie Benn, DAL, WC, 16.664

Bonus Point: John Tavares, NYI (Eastern Conference), 12.294 seconds

Team Scoring: Eastern Conference 3, Western Conference 2

SKILLS CHALLENGE RELAY

Race 1

Eastern Conference, Righty One-Timer Group, 1:38.410

Western Conference, Righty One-Timer Group, 2:15.371

Race 2

Eastern Conference, Lefty One-Timer Group, 1:44.446

Western Conference, Lefty One-Timer Group, 1:27.687

Bonus Point: Western Conference Lefty One-Timer Group (1:27.687)

Team Scoring: Western Conference 2, Eastern Conference 1

HARDEST SHOT

Eastern Conference

Aaron Ekblad, FLA, 91.9 mph, 93.4 mph

Evgeni Malkin, PIT, 97.0, 94.1

Steven Stamkos, TBL, 98.5, 103.9

P.K. Subban, MTL, 102.3, 101.3

Western Conference

Dustin Byfuglien, WPG, 99.6, 99.4

Tyler Seguin, DAL, 91.2, 95.0

John Scott, ARI *, 92.6, 95.9

Shea Weber, NSH, 105.3, 108.1

*- Represented the Western Conference though traded to Montreal.

Bonus Point: Shea Weber, NSH (Western Conference), 108.1 mph
(As winner, Weber took additional attempt: 107.8 mph)
Team Scoring: Western Conference 3, Eastern Conference 2

SHOOTOUT

ROUND 1

Eastern Conference vs. Devan Dubnyk

1. Evgeni Malkin, G, G

2. Jaromir Jagr, Sv, Sv

3. P.K. Subban, Sv, Sv

4. Ryan O'Reilly, Sv

5. Leo Komarov, Sv

6. Aaron Ekblad, Sv

Western Conference vs. Roberto Luongo

1. Patrick Kane, Sv, Sv

2. Matt Duchene, Sv, Sv

3. Brent Burns, Sv, Sv

4. Mark Giordano, Sv

5. Vladimir Tarasenko, Sv

6. Daniel Sedin, Sv

ROUND 2

Eastern Conference vs. John Gibson

1. Patrice Bergeron, G, G

2. Nicklas Backstrom, G, Sv

3. Steven Stamkos, G

4. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Sv

5. Ryan McDonagh, G

6. Justin Faulk, G

Western Conference vs. Braden Holtby

1, Joe Pavelski, G, Sv

2. Taylor Hall, Sv, Sv

3. Jamie Benn, Sv, Sv

4. James Neal, Sv

5. Johnny Gaudreau, Sv

6. Dustin Byfuglien, Sv

ROUND 3

Eastern Conference vs. Jonathan Quick

1. Claude Giroux, G, Sv

2. Dylan Larkin, G, G

3. John Tavares, Sv, Sv

4. Kris Letang, Sv

5. Erik Karlsson, Sv

6. Brandon Saad, Sv

Western Conference vs. Cory Schneider

1. John Scott, Sv, Sv

2. Shea Weber, Sv, Sv

3. Tyler Seguin, G, Sv

4. Corey Perry, Sv, Sv

5. Drew Doughty, Sv

6. Roman Josi, Sv

First and third shooters for each team earned two points per goals

Team Scoring: Eastern Conference 17, Western Conference 4