Kucherov nets hat trick as Atlantic tops Metro to advance to All-Star Final

The hometown fans got a show Sunday as Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov scored a hat trick to lead the Atlantic All-Stars to a 7-4 win over the Metropolitan Division to set up a spot in the final against the Pacific Division.

After Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin combined for four points in the first period, giving the Metropolitan Division a 3-2 lead, the Atlantic Division came alive in the second.

The club outscored the Metropolitan 5-1 in the final period on the back of two of Kucherov's three goals. Jack Eichel and Erik Karlsson also collected a trio of points in a game that saw every member of the Atlantic squad tally at least one point.

The Atlantic will now take on the Pacific All-Stars in a battle for the $1-million prize.

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