The 5 best performances at the NHL Skills Competition in NY Islanders history

It's always a thrill for hockey fans to see their players compete in the NHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition. It's especially true for fans of New York Islanders fans who often feel their team and stars don't get the same level of national attention offered to "big market" U.S. teams and those that play in Canada. So when all eyes are on a night to showcase hockey, and an Islander takes center stage for a few hours, it feels especially good.

Last night in Sunrise, FL, the always underrated and often under-appreciated Brock Nelson snuck up on the competition that included Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Nazem Kadri, and other bigger, more household names.

After having the second-fastest time in the preliminary round, Nelson defeated the New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin the in the semi-final setting up a matchup with Kadri after the Flames' star defeated McDavid (despite McDavid hitting all four targets with four shots).

Nelson hit his four targets in five shots to be crowned the Accuracy Shooting champ.

"It was cool," Nelson said. "There were some nerves, some excitement, going into it, not knowing what to expect. That was fun. I kind of had (son) Beckett bouncing in and out to meet some guys and be around the action. Seeing him around — and how excited he is — was probably the coolest thing. I'll remember it forever."

Here are the other winning New York Islanders moments in All-Star Skills competion history.