NHL All Star Game Recap

The NHL All Star game concluded Sunday night with Team Toews outlasting Team Foligno 17-12 in Columbus and the only thing this writer can say is: thank God it’s over!

The game featured a NHL All Star game record 29 combined goals between the two squads. There were a total of 92 shots, and as we’ve come to expect in recent games, zero penalty minutes and zero hits. I’ve seen more enthusiasm in a dentist’s waiting room than I did on the rink Sunday night. No one got hurt, so that’s good news and a silver lining to the weekend.

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The game’s MVP was Ryan Johansen who scored two goals and added two more assists for Team Foligno in a losing effort. Sure, John Tavares tied a NHL All Star game record with four goals and Jakub Voracek added three goals and three assists for the winners, but probably only the most ardent Islanders or Flyers fans cared for more than half a second by their players’ snubs. Of course the MVP voting was conducted via fans on Twitter, so it was no surprise there was some home-cooking in the voting. Good for Johansen who won a car for his efforts. Tavares and Voracek probably have a car or two back in the garage they can cruise around in anyway.

The game itself was every bit the glorified exhibition we’ve come to expect from a NHL All Star game. Players attempted high risk passes, the defense were there just to make sure each team had five skaters on the ice at once, and goalies were generally hung out to dry on high-quality scoring chances. That didn’t stop the Blue Jacket fans though from sarcastically cheering Marc-Andre Fleury every time he stopped a puck (which wasn’t much). Bless their hearts as it helped provide some much needed comedic relief throughout the second period. Also booing Rick Nash when he scored? I tip my cap to you, Columbus.

On the night only three players- Anze Kopitar, Phil Kessel, and Zemgus Girgensons– failed to record a point. It’s a shame for Girgensons as a goal would have made him the most accomplished person ever from Latvia…you’re safe for this year Peteris Vasks!

There were few stoppages during the game as goalies were encouraged to play pucks and avoid covering the puck or icings. It kept the play moving even if only for a few extra seconds before the next goal was scored.

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Another NHL All Star game record- quickest two goals- occurred in the second period when Ryan Suter fired one into the net only to be outdone by Claude Giroux eight seconds later. Somehow this record was able to survive the night despite both teams doing their best to ruin their goalies’ confidence. Hopefully for the netminders they can shake off tonight’s action and get ready for the second half of the season.

By far the coolest moment of the night was watching Daryl Sutter’s son Chris behind the bench giving a pep talk to Bobby Ryan, coaching Patrick Kane, and trying to work the refs for a penalty.

Say all you want about the NHL All Star game and how it’s basically a mockery of the sport, but moments like this are just awesome to watch and make the rest of the game worth tolerating.

Despite the few and far between good moments, the game was pretty vanilla (I know, with 29 goals scored, how could that be…trust me, it was) and besides the razzing of Fleury and the goals scored by hometown boys Nick Foligno and Ryan Johansen, there wasn’t a ton of energy in the crowd. Yes, it’s tough to get amped up every time someone scores when the barrage just won’t end, but if it weren’t for that damn cannon and horn, the post-goal celebrations would have remained mostly silent.

I can’t even blame the fans here for this either. It’s a long weekend with many of the same people attending Skills Challenge and All Star game. The game on the ice is nothing like fans are used to seeing with the zero physical play and lack of defense (unless you watch a lot of Phil Kessel). It’s just five skaters passing the puck around trying to make a highlight reel. I get it and don’t expect players to be banging bodies, but a little passion wouldn’t be the end of the world. Hell, I would have settled for a deflected shot tonight. The game could use some changes, and to the NHL’s credit, they have tinkered with the weekend the past few years trying to create a fun experience for both the casual and hardcore fans. There’s still work to be done and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some new elements next year in Nashville.

Overall though the NHL should be proud of the weekend and the festivities it put on for its fans. Many of the players came off extremely likeable and showed a side that few ever see (I think Jonathan Toews actually smiled at one point). It was a nice break and good way to re-charge the batteries. But thankfully it’s over, and come Tuesday the next time we see a break like this won’t be until June. And thank God for that.

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