NHL Day 116 2011-2012: The All-Star Game

After a few days full of festivities in Ottawa, the game will finally occur. Team Alfredsson is hosting Team Chara, with the goalies being Henrik Lundqvist for the Alfies and Jimmy Howard for the Big Z's in the first period. Team Chara led off with a Marian Gaborik goal, with a lone assist by Pavel Datsyuk. The Big Z's added on as Evgeni Malkin scored with the help of Jarome Iginla. Team Chara followed it up on another Gaborik goal, via Marian Hossa and Ryan Suter. Team Alfredsson got one back with a Jason Spezza goal, fueled by Dan Girardi and Milan Michalek. The Alfies pulled within one as Henrik Sedin sank a goal from Scott Hartnell and Kris Letang. Team Alfredsson tied it at 3 with a John Tavares goal, coming off of Jason Pominville and Keith Yandle, and that's where the score sat at the first intermission. The goalies in the second period were Carey Price for the Big Z's and Jonathan Quick for the Alfies. The Big Z's got the lead again with Gaborik completing his hat trick thanks to Hossa and Datsyuk. Team Chara extended the lead on a Joffrey Lupul goal, with a lone helper by Phil Kessel. The Alfies struck back on a Jason Pominville goal, powered by James Neal and Steven Stamkos. Team Alfredsson tied it up on Daniel Alfredsson's goal, an unassisted goal. Alfredsson helped the Alfies take a lead when his second of the game found twine from his twin countrymen Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin. The game would again be tied at intermission when the Big Z's got an equalizer off the tape of Patrick Kane, set up by Jordan Eberle. Tending the twines in the third period were Tim Thomas for the Big Z's and Brian Elliott for the Alfies. Team Chara regained the lead again on a Kessel goal, courtesy of Brian Campbell. Team Alfredsson retied it as Michalek netted the puck thanks to Tavares and Jason Spezza. The Big Z's answered with an Iginla goal off of Malkin and Corey Perry. Claude Giroux shot back for the Alfies with helpers provided by Hartnell and Logan Couture. Team Chara again took the lead as Hossa scored, passed through by Datsyuk for a sock trick. The Big Z's added some separation when Chara blasted a puck in, and the only assist belonged to Gaborik. Perry kept Team Chara strong with a goal of his own, guided in by Iginla and Dennis Wideman. Team Alfredsson attempted to key a comeback on a Daniel Sedin goal made possible by Henrik Sedin and Alfredsson. The Big Z's would ice it at 12-9 with another Lupul goal, coming from the tape of Tyler Seguin and Kessel previously. Without the official three stars, I would like to recognize the following players for their contributions: Gaborik of Team Chara with four points; Datsyuk, Hossa, Iginla, and Kessel of Team Chara and Alfredsson and Henrik Sedin of Team Alfredsson with three points each; Lupul, Malkin, and Perry of the Big Z's and Hartnell, Michalek, Pominville, Daniel Sedin, Spezza, and Tavares of the Alfies with two points each; Campbell, Chara, Eberle, Kane, Seguin, Suter, and Wideman of Team Chara and Couture, Girardi, Giroux, Letang, Neal, Stamkos, and Yandle of Team Alfredsson with a point each; and special thanks to the unrewarded heroes of the game with no points: Jamie Benn, Dion Phaneuf, and Kimmo Timonen of the Big Z's and Alexander Edler, Erik Karlsson, and Shea Weber of the Alfies. Also, special thanks to the goalies Lundqvist, Howard, Thomas, Elliott, Price, and Quick for their taking of the abuse during this game. Next post will be on Tuesday with the resumption of regular season NHL action. Until then, thank you all for your continued support.