Detroit Red Wings sniper Alex DeBrincat clinches the All-Star Game for Team Matthews by pick-pocketing Connor McDavid and hitting the empty net

Alex DeBrincat's six-point effort in securing All-Star victory for Team Matthews might not have been enough to take the game's MVP honors, but he did clinch the game for his team by filching the puck off Connor McDavid, who had reaffirmed his status at the NHL's best player a night earlier by winning the event's skills competition, then hitting the empty net.

As McDavid wheeled through neutral ice looking to claw his team back from a late two-goal deficit, DeBrincat delivered a well-timed stick check to poke the puck free.  He collected the loose puck, then fired it into the empty net to seal his team's win.

While the All-Star Game is of course hardly a bastion of competitiveness and intensity within the NHL's calendar, DeBrincat's goal held significance nonetheless.  The winning team earned a $1,000,000 to split among themselves.

DeBrincat had already clinched his team's semifinal victory over Team Hughes by scoring the shootout winner, having already scored two goals and provided the assist that forced the shootout.

When the Detroit Red Wings' regular season resumes on February 10th, DeBrincat will look to build on his 18 goals and 25 assists (both totals, along with his point total of 43, second on the team).

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