It took an overtime period and eventually a shootout but Ilya Kovalchuk and his Eastern Conference teammates won the 57th NHL All-Star Game, 12-11, in Montreal on Sunday night. As is the norm in the annual NHL showcase, it was a high scoring affair with six goals being exchanged in the second period alone. The final goal in regulation was scored by Jay Bouwmeester with 3:39 left to go in the third period. Bouwmeester’s goal tied the game at 11, which is where it would end after regulation and a five-minute overtime period.
In the shootout, the Eastern All-Stars ran away with the victory, scoring twice before the Western All-Stars could record a single score. Alex Ovechkin clinched it for the East, sneaking the puck past the sprawled leg of Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo. The game’s MVP was Montreal’s Alex Kovalev, who finished with two goals, an assist and a shootout goal for the East.
Unfortunately for Thrasher fans, Kovalchuk was one of only six Eastern Conference players to finish without a point. In his 17:35 of ice time, the Thrashers’ recently named captain got two shots on goal, none of which made it past the Western Conference goalies.
Also being held scoreless over the All-Star weekend was the one player who came into the break leading all competitors in Saturday’s YoungStars game in goals. Bryan Little competed in the NHL’s Rookie vs. Sophomore YoungStars Game on Saturday night. Little, who entered the break with 34 points, was held scoreless while he watched his sophomore team fall to the rookies, 9-5. Blake Wheeler led to the way for the rookies with three goals.
Boral can be reached at jboral@scoreatl.com.
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