“M-V-P!” and the National Hockey League finally got out of the way.
Advertisement
Pacific Division forward John Scott kisses his wife after being named most valuable player in the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
He scored twice during the tournament, bringing cheers from fans and smiles from teammates who relished every moment along with the gentle giant with a goofy grin and a likable demeanor. “You can’t write this stuff”.
Sharks players Brent Burns and Joe Pavelski got what they wanted Sunday afternoon. Bishop also added an assist.
Burns assisted on the winning goal by Anaheim s Corey Perry against the Atlantic Division, and also had three points in the semifinals. Both semifinal favorites – Central and Metropolitan – lost and an expected flurry of goals in the championship period never materialized.
“We pulled the goalie, tried to score and tie it up; pretty game-like out there”. “It just kind of gives you goosebumps when you think about it”. Three different players scored two goals for the Pacific team, with Scott, Daniel Sedin, and Taylor Hall doing the honors.
The NHL changed the format after last year’s All-Star Game featured 92 shots and a combined 29 goals in the biggest offensive display in the showcase’s 60-year history.
“Originally, I thought it was a great idea”, said Dallas center Tyler Seguin. I’m about 275 pounds, 300 soaking wet. “Yeah, nerve-wracking, especially [because] Burnzie is such a spaz”.
Now Scott’s helmet is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and his name was trending on Twitter in the United States after a night when he wasn’t listed among the three MVP candidates for a social media vote late in the final game.
He scored twice during Pacific’s semifinal game against Central, including his first goal 47 seconds into the game on his first shift, leading his team to a 9-6 win, according to CBC.
“I’m sure he won over a lot of people”, Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane said.
Scott, with his five career regular-season goals, was the life of the party, even if his stay was brief at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
So it had to be a bodycheck to the National Hockey League when commissioner Gary Bettman handed Scott an oversized $1 million check on the ice. One NHL official reportedly asked Scott, “Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?” Scott said the question only strengthened his resolve to take part. “Overall, it was a good weekend.”.
Dylan Larkin was the only rookie in the game, and was the first rookie to represent the Red Wings in a game since 1984 when Steve Yzerman introduced us to his greatness. Fans voted the 6-foot-8 Scott as captain of the Pacific Division, but Arizona traded him to Montreal and he is now at the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate in Newfoundland. These All-Stars combined for 116 shots and 23 goals.
Advertisement
“I broke a better sweat than previous year, for sure”, Flyers captain Claude Giroux said after being held scoreless as his Metropolitan Division team fell to the Atlantic Division, 4-3, in the opener of the mini-tournament. The winners of each game would face off for the championship.
