The MLB All-Star Game had another successful contest on Tuesday, pitting the American League against the National League. Megastars such as Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani graced the Globe Life Field crowd with their presence, putting on a show. Ultimately, the American League prevailed, 5-3, with Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox winning the game's MVP award. That's 10 out of the last 11 victories for the American League, who have a slight edge in the overall series (48-44-2).
So what does that have to do with the Vegas Golden Knights? For one, they've had their fair share of All-Star representatives throughout the years. Although they didn't appear on the diamond, they competed in a hockey rink with some of the world's best players. They've represented everything the franchise stood for, teaming up with Pacific Division superstars such as Connor McDavid and Elias Pettersson.
But this year's Midsummer Classic was different, drawing a sizable crowd. 7.44 million viewers saw the Judge and the American League emerge victorious, up 6% from last year. Although it's still low from years prior, it shows people are drawn to the game's best players. That holds true for the NHL, who'll have a 4 Nations Face-Off replacing their All-Star Game this upcoming season.
A breakdown of the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL All-Star Game
The NHL All-Star game is vastly different from its baseball counterpart. Aside from playing in a rink compared to a baseball field, the NHL's version is a single-elimination tournament between the four divisions. One division will reign supreme, with the rest waiting for the next installment.
It's a nice concept that has seen names like Alex Pietrangelo (2022) participate. Although the Pacific Division didn't make it to the championship round (lost 6-4 to the Metropolitan Division), Pietrangelo did represent the Vegas Golden Knights well with Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone. Having three Golden Knights playing in the All-Star Game hosted by Vegas was a nice touch, adding to the franchise's lore. On top of that, Stone and Marchessault had a goal each in the Pacific Division's game against the Metropolitan Division.
But the most All-Star selections among the Golden Knights have come from Marc-Andre Fleury, who was selected three times (2018-20). He didn't play in 2020 because he wanted to rest. However, the Pacific Division still won the tournament, defeating the Atlantic Division in the championship round, 5-4. Max Pacioretty was a part of that team, replacing Jakob Silfverberg and giving Vegas representation. He scored the first goal for the division, being the deciding factor for their victory.
Although next season won't have an All-Star contest, the Golden Knights will have some representation in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Jack Eichel will represent the United States in the round-robin tournament, hoping to bring the inaugural championship to American soil. Will it be as exciting as the MLB All-Star Game? Stay tuned. It'll be a blast for sports fans everywhere.