What was lacking in defense was made up for in excitement at Sunday night’s NHL All-Star Game.
The Boston Bruins’ Marc Savard scored with 21 seconds remaining to lift the Eastern Conference to an 8-7 victory over the Western Conference at Philips Arena.
“The men turned into kids again, all of us,” Savard said. “Because you want to be in that street-hockey game where you want to win it even though you’re just having fun. That’s what it turned into, and I’m glad we won.”
Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith, one of 15 players making his All-Star Game debut, had one shot on goal in 19 minutes 50 seconds of ice time for the West.
“It was fun being out there,” he said. “As the game went along the pace picked up, and it was a little more entertaining for the fans and a little more fun for the players too. We wanted to win, and it was tough losing with 20 seconds to go. It was fun and exciting for the fans, so that’s all that matters.”
Savard’s goal won it for the East after an impressive rally by the West, which trailed 5-1 after the first period.
“That would be the best [All-Star Game] I’ve played in just from a pure entertainment and intensity level,” said Anaheim defenseman Chris Pronger, appearing in his sixth.
“Pride’s at stake, and that’s what kicks in and makes the game more exciting.”
Columbus’ Rick Nash got the Western Conference off to a fast start as he scored on a breakaway 12 seconds into the first period. That broke the record for fastest goal to start an NHL All-Star Game set by Detroit’s Ted Lindsay, who scored 19 seconds into the 1950 event.
The East then reeled off five first-period goals against Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood. Carolina’s Eric Staal, Montreal’s Andrei Markov, Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Buffalo’s Brian Campbell and Ovechkin again scored to give the Eastern stars a 5-1 lead.
Nash scored his second of the game in the second period to cut the deficit to 5-2, and Anaheim’s Scott Niedermayer capped the period with a goal to make it 5-3 after two.
In the third period, the Ducks’ Ryan Getzlaf and Nash, on his third breakaway, scored to tie it 5-5.
Atlanta’s Marian Hossa gave the hometown crowd of 18,641 something to cheer about when he scored to give the East a 6-5 lead, but Calgary’s Dion Phaneuf tied it and Minnesota’s Marian Gaborik later made it 7-6 for the West.
Staal, who was named the game’s most valuable player, scored his second goal to tie it with 7:25 to go before setting up Savard’s game-winner.
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ckuc@tribune.com
