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NHL All-Star Game: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin has some fun, records three assists in record-scoring game NHL All-Star Game: Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin has some fun, records three assists in record-scoring game
(about 2 hours later)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alex Ovechkin charged from behind the net and brushed past an official, spreading his wide arms on a mission to protect. All weekend, the Washington Capitals’ forward and captain had embraced the role of class clown, and now during the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, he found another chance to summon some laughs.COLUMBUS, Ohio — Alex Ovechkin charged from behind the net and brushed past an official, spreading his wide arms on a mission to protect. All weekend, the Washington Capitals’ forward and captain had embraced the role of class clown, and now during the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, he found another chance to summon some laughs.
Two skaters from each team had already drawn close, mimicking the post-whistle scrums typical during the regular season, so Ovechkin hoped to agitate — or something like that. He grabbed defensemen Mark Giordano and Brent Seabrook and wrapped them tight. He felt a stick tap his legs, so he went after someone else. Soon, everyone was moving together in one massive group hug.Two skaters from each team had already drawn close, mimicking the post-whistle scrums typical during the regular season, so Ovechkin hoped to agitate — or something like that. He grabbed defensemen Mark Giordano and Brent Seabrook and wrapped them tight. He felt a stick tap his legs, so he went after someone else. Soon, everyone was moving together in one massive group hug.
“Yeah, start a good thing,” Ovechkin said.“Yeah, start a good thing,” Ovechkin said.
An avalanche of goals, absent of any defense, snapped several all-star game records in a 17-12 victory for the team captained by Chicago forward Jonathan Toews over the squad helmed by Columbus forward Nick Foligno, so Ovechkin did what he could to inject entertainment into his fifth appearance and sixth selection.An avalanche of goals, absent of any defense, snapped several all-star game records in a 17-12 victory for the team captained by Chicago forward Jonathan Toews over the squad helmed by Columbus forward Nick Foligno, so Ovechkin did what he could to inject entertainment into his fifth appearance and sixth selection.
He cherry-picked breakouts but deferred on open shots, finishing with three assists. When Seabrook lost his stick early into the third period, Ovechkin beat him to it and dragged it further out of reach. He did not win the MVP honor — the fan vote awarded that to Ovechkin’s linemate, forward Ryan Johansen, who had four points — or the accompanying car he had begged for so much, the reason later becoming clear: He said he was going to donate a four-door sedan to the NoVa Cool Cats, a Northern Virginia hockey team for children with special needs. He cherry-picked breakouts but deferred on open shots, finishing with three assists. When Seabrook lost his stick early into the third period, Ovechkin beat him to it and dragged it further out of reach. He did not win the MVP honor — the fan vote awarded that to Ovechkin’s linemate, forward Ryan Johansen, who had four points — or the accompanying car he had begged for so much, the reason later becoming clear: He said he was going to donate a four-door sedan to the Washington Ice Dogs, a hockey team for children with special needs.
“I’m not disappointed,” Ovechkin said. “It’s going to be a couple surprises soon.” “Of course it kind of show time [but] do it for charity as well,” he said. “Some maybe haters or somebody going to think I just need a car, but we do it for charity and good stuff.”
Even without stops or whistles, Sunday night plodded along with all the intensity of a leisurely stroll through the park. Zero hits were recorded. Only 12 shots were blocked. Florida goaltender Roberto Luongo allowed four goals on 17 shots during the first period, then spent the third tweeting from the bench, faring better than Pittsburgh’s Marc Andre-Fleury, who allowed an all-star game-worst seven goals during the second period and was subjected to mocking cheers from the Nationwide Arena crowd each time he touched the puck. Even without stops or whistles, Sunday night plodded along with the intensity of a leisurely stroll through the park. Zero hits were recorded. Only 12 shots were blocked. Florida goaltender Roberto Luongo allowed four goals on 17 shots during the first period, then spent the third tweeting from the bench, faring better than Pittsburgh’s Marc Andre-Fleury, who allowed an all-star game-worst seven goals during the second period and was subjected to mocking cheers from the Nationwide Arena crowd.
“I feel for the goalies,” said Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, one of only two skaters who didn’t record a point.“I feel for the goalies,” said Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar, one of only two skaters who didn’t record a point.
While the NHL unveiled its new tracking system, loading computer chips into sweaters and pucks, the 10 rafter cameras captured a night unfolding, it seemed, at quarter-speed. Skaters acted like pylons, playing defense standing still, hanging goaltenders out to dry. With time, the game became less about celebrating the actual goals and more about muffing ears for the building’s deafening cannon blast, sounding each time Team Foligno found the net.While the NHL unveiled its new tracking system, loading computer chips into sweaters and pucks, the 10 rafter cameras captured a night unfolding, it seemed, at quarter-speed. Skaters acted like pylons, playing defense standing still, hanging goaltenders out to dry. With time, the game became less about celebrating the actual goals and more about muffing ears for the building’s deafening cannon blast, sounding each time Team Foligno found the net.
But at least goals were scored. Lots of them. Twenty-four players registered at least two points. Everyone on Team Toews tallied at least one, and only Kopitar and Buffalo forward Zemgus Girgensons were left blank. Philadelphia forward Jakub Voracek and New York Islanders forward John Tavares matched single-game marks with six points and four goals, respectively, and the 29 total goals broke the old all-star game mark set in 2001, when the format pitted North America against the World.But at least goals were scored. Lots of them. Twenty-four players registered at least two points. Everyone on Team Toews tallied at least one, and only Kopitar and Buffalo forward Zemgus Girgensons were left blank. Philadelphia forward Jakub Voracek and New York Islanders forward John Tavares matched single-game marks with six points and four goals, respectively, and the 29 total goals broke the old all-star game mark set in 2001, when the format pitted North America against the World.
Since then, only eight all-star games had been played, canceled twice because of lockouts and not scheduled twice more because of the Olympics. The latest model, which began in 2011, offered NHL-chosen captains the luxury of picking pick their teams in a fantasy draft, which Ovechkin spent begging for a car Friday night, stealing the spotlight yet again. Since then, only eight all-star games had been played, canceled twice because of lockouts and not scheduled twice more because of the Olympics. The latest model, which began in 2011, offered NHL-chosen captains the luxury of picking their teams in a fantasy draft, which Ovechkin spent begging for a car Friday night, stealing the spotlight yet again.
“He’s got one of the best personalities in hockey, and you watch him, he’s such a great ambassador for the game,” Foligno said Saturday after Ovechkin fell in both the hardest shot competition and breakaway challenge.“He’s got one of the best personalities in hockey, and you watch him, he’s such a great ambassador for the game,” Foligno said Saturday after Ovechkin fell in both the hardest shot competition and breakaway challenge.
Skating on the top line with Foligno and Johansen, both members of the Columbus Blue Jackets, whom the Capitals will face Tuesday upon returning from the all-star break, Ovechkin played a secondary role, the NHL’s fourth-leading goal-scorer this season yet only one of eight skaters on his squad not to find the net. Skating on the top line with Foligno and Johansen, both members of the Blue Jackets, whom the Capitals will face Tuesday upon returning from the all-star break, Ovechkin played a secondary role, the NHL’s fourth-leading goal-scorer this season yet only one of eight skaters on his squad not to find the net.
Once Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane shoveled a backhander and cut Team Toews’s lead to 15-11, tying the all-star game record for aggregate goals, even the cannon was dormant. A flag waved from the perch, but no boom was heard.Once Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane shoveled a backhander and cut Team Toews’s lead to 15-11, tying the all-star game record for aggregate goals, even the cannon was dormant. A flag waved from the perch, but no boom was heard.
“Kind of feels like summer hockey a little bit, where there’s a lot of breakaways, a lot of odd-man rushes,” Kane said. “I think as the game goes on it gets a little bit more competitive and you probably see a better game from a fan’s standpoint. The last half of the game is probably a little more fun to watch. It’s fun.”“Kind of feels like summer hockey a little bit, where there’s a lot of breakaways, a lot of odd-man rushes,” Kane said. “I think as the game goes on it gets a little bit more competitive and you probably see a better game from a fan’s standpoint. The last half of the game is probably a little more fun to watch. It’s fun.”