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.

Adrian Aucoin

NHL Hardest Shot, 2004

Back in 2004, defenseman Adrian Aucoin shared a victory in the hardest shot competition with Sheldon Sourayof the Montreal Canadiens with a 102.2 mph blast and scored the first goal of the game in a 6–4 win over the Western Conference.

Acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in June 2001, Aucoin scored 12 goals for an Islanders team that returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1993-94. "Peter Laviolette was ahead of his time, said Aucoin in a 2018 Q&A. Such a go-go-go (coach), he had our forwards going, our defencemen going, and everyone going up ice to create as much offense as possible. And that’s kind of the way the NHL is now."

Aucoin appeared in 1,108 NHL games, amassing 121 goals, 278 assists, and 399 points.

Michael Grabner

NHL Fastest Skater, 2011

Michael Grabner always had wheels; they were always on display from the day the Islanders selected him off waivers from the Florida Panthers. While he reached the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks, his rookie season was with the Islanders, scoring 34 goals and 52 points, to lead all first-year players and the Islanders in goals. He was a Calder Trophy finalist in 2011.

In 2011, he wasn't an NHL All-Star but did compete on behalf of "Team Staal" in the skills competition In a head-to-head matchup with Edmonton's Taylor Hall, Grabner bested him 14.061 seconds to 14.261, but as both finished with the top time on their teams, they matched up again in the final, and again Grabner came out on top, this time. 14.238 seconds to 14.715

"I never practiced it or worked on it … I guess it's just natural," Grabner told NHL.com. "It's not a skill everyone has, so I'm lucky, I guess. I was hoping I would be in the event. That's what my game is based on -- speed. So I was excited when heard I was in the event."

"My legs were a little tired. I just didn't care, said Grabner I thought, 'OK, one more lap and I'm done for the day.' It was great to be a part of it and being out there with these guys, though."

Mathew Barzal

Fastest Skater, 2020

The 2020 Fastest Skater competition was one of the more dramatic in history because entering the skills event, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers appeared unbeatable as the three-time defending champion. In 2017, McDavid won the event by 0.300 of a second over Vincent Trocheck and followed that up by topping Brayden Point by 0.125 of a second. In 2019, McDavid won by 0.204 of a second over Buffalo's Jack Eichel.

But in 2020, his reign would come to an end. After being .0402 behind McDavid the previous year, Mathew Barzal posted a blazing 13.175 lap, hitting 24.86 mph to hold the top position, but the Oilers star would go last and knew what was needed to win. McDavid ended up being edged out by Barzal's time by just 0.040.

“That’s a good time by Barzy,” McDavid said, according to NHL.com. “Tip your hat. That’s it.