New York Rangers stud Marian Gaborik recorded a hat trick and fellow Slovak Marian Hossa scored to snap a tie with just under eight minutes remaining in the third period as Team Chara skated to a 12-9 triumph over Team Alfredsson in the 59th NHL All-Star Game on Sunday.
Captain Zdeno Chara tallied 16 seconds later and reigning Hart Trophy winner Corey Perry gave his team a three-goal cushion just 66 ticks later to silence the crowd at Scotiabank Place. With four Ottawa Senators on the club, Team Alfredsson was clearly the crowd favorite in Canada's capital city.
Toronto's Joffrey Lupul scored twice, fellow Maple Leaf Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin, Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla and Chicago Blackhawks stud Patrick Kane also tallied for Team Chara.
Reigning Vezina Trophy recipient Tim Thomas became the first goaltender to win four consecutive All-Star Games. For his early hat trick, Gaborik was named the game's MVP.
Captain Daniel Alfredsson scored twice in a 91-second span and Ottawa Senators teammates Milan Michalek and Jason Spezza also tallied. Philadelphia Flyers stud Claude Giroux, Buffalo Sabres captain Jason Pominville, Vancouver Canucks phenoms Henrik and Daniel Sedin and New York Islanders star John Tavares also scored for Team Alfredsson.
With the second penalty shot in NHL All-Star Game history, league goal-scoring leader Steven Stamkos' backhander was denied by Detroit Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard in the first period. Colorado Avalanche center Matt Duchene was also unsuccessful on his attempt last year.
The teams scored three times in both the first and second periods and exchanged tallies midway through the third. With the game tied at 8-8, Hossa fended off Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson before backhanding the puck past St. Louis Blues goaltender Brian Elliott.
Chara's wrist shot from the slot and Perry's subsequent backhander gave Team Chara an 11-8 lead with 6:34 remaining.
Gaborik opened the scoring at 4:34 of the first period after executing a give-and-go with Pavel Datsyuk and beating Rangers teammate Henrik Lundqvist. After the tally, Gaborik celebrated by mimicking New York center Artem Anisimov's gun salute, causing Rangers coach John Tortorella to joke that the Slovak would be fined $1,000 for the gesture.
Malkin doubled the advantage just 64 seconds after he beat Lundqvist under the crossbar and Gaborik tallied again 4 1/2 minutes later after converting a 2-on-1 with Hossa.
After Team Alfredsson leveled the contest with three goals in a span of 3:13, Gaborik capped the hat trick 1:23 into the second after exchanging passes with Hossa before tapping the puck into the open net.
Alfredsson leveled the contest at 5-5 with 5:27 remaining in the second after splitting the defense and wristing a shot which caromed off the glove of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price and into the net.
The veteran Swede then gave his team the lead after being the beneficiary of some stellar passing from the Sedins. Alfredsson capped the play by wiring the puck home from the slot.
Team Chara | Team Alfredsson | |
Marian Gaborik 4 | Points | Daniel Alfredsson 3 |
Marian Gaborik 3 | Goals | Daniel Alfredsson 2 |
Pavel Datsyuk 3 | Assists | Henrik Sedin 2 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Tim Thomas .857 | Save Percentage | Jonathan Quick .769 |
Tim Thomas 18 | Saves | Brian Elliott 13 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Team Chara | 44 | 12 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 21 |
Team Alfredsson | 50 | 9 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 24 |