After a month and a half of John Scott controversies, fan voting, and drawn battle lines, we're finally here, collectively, to celebrate the NHL. Regardless of where we respectively stand, this event is for all of us, the fans. Let us put aside our differences and enjoy the chaos that is to follow in the three 20-minute sessions of All-Star fun. First up...
The Metropolitan and Atlantic Divisions do battle. Roberto Luongo and Braden Holtby tend the twines at first. Metropolitan struck first with a Kris Letang goal, via Evgeni Malkin. Atlantic tied it at with an Erik Karlsson goal, helped along by Dylan Larkin. Metropolitan took the lead back with an Evgeny Kuznetsov goal, passed from Justin Faulk. Atlantic tied it again as Jaromir Jagr scored, thanks to Larkin. The first half ended tied at 2. Ben Bishop and Cory Schneider will play in the second half in goal. Metropolitan retook the lead in the second half with a Malkin goal, courtesy of Letang and the goalie Schneider. Atlantic tied it again with an Aaron Ekblad goal, set up by Ryan O'Reilly and Leo Komarov. Atlantic took the lead as P.K. Subban scored, with the help of Larkin, who got a sock trick for his efforts, and the goalie Bishop. This stood for a 4-3 Atlantic win, sending them through to the final. The three stars here were Larkin, Malkin, and Bishop (11 for 12 in saves).
The other semifinals is the Pacific and Central Divisions sparring. Pekka Rinne and Jonathan Quick man the nets to begin. Central was first to score with a James Neal goal, via Matt Duchene and Shea Weber. Pacific tied it on a John Scott goal, assisted by Brent Burns. Pacific gained the lead with a Joe Pavelski power play goal, powered by Daniel Sedin and Corey Perry. Central retied it on Neal's second of the game, coming off of Duchene and Weber. Pacific pulled ahead again with a Johnny Gaudreau goal, made possible by Mark Giordano and Taylor Hall. Central pulled even with a Patrick Kane, helped along by Jamie Benn and the goalie Rinne. The first half comes to a close, tied at 3. In the second half, Devan Dubnyk and John Gibson take over in goal. Pacific took the lead in the second half on a Sedin goal, with a lone assist by the goalie Gibson. Pacific added on with Scott's second of the game, guided in by Burns. Pacific extended the lead as Hall scored, with the help of Gaudreau. Pacific padded the lead with Sedin's second of the game, fueled by Perry and Drew Doughty. Central chipped back on a Dustin Byfuglien goal, with helpers provided by Tyler Seguin and Vladimir Tarasenko. Central edged closer with a Seguin goal, with assists from Byfuglien and Tarasenko. Pacific stopped the bleeding with a Hall goal, his second of the game, set up by Gaudreau and Burns, the latter getting a sock trick. Pacific countered with a Doughty empty net goal, with an assist from Pavelski. Central answered on a Roman Josi goal, dished from Seguin and Neal. The Pacific held on for a 9-6 win in this one, with the three stars given to Hall, Scott, and Sedin.
In the final, the Pacific and Atlantic Divisions have the right to fight for $1 million. Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick make the starts here. The first half ends without a goal, tied at 0. Ben Bishop and John Gibson will close out the festivities in net. Pacific got going with a Perry goal in the second half, via Sedin and Burns. They held on for a 1-0 win, with the three stars here being Perry, Quick (10 for 10 in saves), and Gibson (6 for 6 in saves).
The overall MVP for the day is John Scott, with his two goals. Regular action returns on Tuesday. As always, follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.
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