The NHL "couldn't buy a marketing campaign that would produce the good will" that Canadiens LW John Scott generated with his performance at last night's All-Star Game, according to Kevin Allen of USA TODAY. Scott, an enforcer voted in by fans while still a member of the Coyotes, was named MVP "after playing a significant role in helping the Pacific Division win the NHL's first 3-on-3 All-Star tournament." Fans in Bridgestone Arena "chanted 'MVP! MVP! MVP!' when his face appeared on the scoreboard video screen." NHL officials after the game said that Scott "had not been listed on the MVP ballot that fans voted on electronically, but they chose him as a write-in candidate." Allen noted that was "appropriate given how he became an All-Star." Scott "ended up as a folk hero, mostly because he was continually classy and could play at a higher level than people realized" (USA TODAY, 2/1). In N.Y., Pat Leonard writes Scott "owned the moment that was supposed to embarrass him." Scott's teammates "briefly lifted him onto their shoulders during a postgame interview" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/1). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Matt Larkin wrote the "sideshow that was supposedly going to taint the All-Star Game swelled into the most meaningful version of the event in years." The fans "screamed every time Scott touched the puck" and "went bananas" when he checked Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane and the two later pantomimed a fight. The "improbable and rapid reconciliation" between Scott and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman cemented the '16 weekend "as arguably the most memorable all-star experience in league history" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/31). The AP's Larry Lage writes the NHL "got a memorable moment on a major stage, and Scott went from being a relatively unknown hockey player to an athlete that perhaps transcends the sport" (AP, 2/1).
CENTER OF ATTENTION: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes Scott "was the king of hockey this weekend." His presence "saved the all-star game" (TORONTO STAR, 2/1). The NATIONAL POST's Michael Traikos writes Scott helped save the All-Star Game from "being the usual bore that it has been in previous years" (NATIONAL POST, 2/1). SPORTS ON EARTH's Joe DeLessio writes hockey fans will "remember the way Scott owned the crowd, and the way his teammates seemed legitimately happy for him when he scored" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 2/1). CBSSPORTS.com's Chris Peters wrote Scott is the "single biggest reason this is an All-Star game we will never forget" (CBSSPORTS.com, 1/31). In Toronto, Mike Zeisberger writes this weekend was "supposed to be about fun," and "no one put more smiles on the faces of fans" than Scott did (TORONTO SUN, 2/1). In Nashville, Adam Vingan writes Scott "crashed the league's weekend-long party in Nashville and was its most popular guest, wholeheartedly embracing the surreal" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/1). In Buffalo, Mike Harrington writes fans are "always going to remember" this All-Star Game because of a "guy who isn't even in the league right now," alluding to the fact that Scott is currently assigned to the Canadiens' AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/1). SI.com's Alex Prewitt: "What happened Sunday night ... defied all expectation" (SI.com, 1/31). VICE SPORTS' Aaron Gordon wrote the NHL for years has "tried to find a format that would make the game interesting." In the end, what "made it interesting was a storyline they never wanted" (SPORTS.VICE.com, 1/31).
THREE'S A CHARM: In Boston, Amalie Benjamin writes the new All-Star format of "three-on-three in a tournament between divisions was ... pretty fun." The format "seemed to get good reviews from those most important: the players." Bruins C Patrice Bergeron said, "I thought guys were definitely trying, that’s why it was so low-scoring like that. Guys didn’t want to give up anything." Benjamin writes it has "always been difficult to find a compelling format for the All-Star Game." In the three-on-three format, it "becomes hard to hide," and therefore, this format "seemed to fix many of the issues that the All-Star Game has had in the past." Stars C Tyler Seguin: "Originally I thought it was a great idea, and now that I’ve played in it, I think it should be like this from here on out" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/1). ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun wrote players in the final game of the mini-tournament "displayed more bite than we've seen in a long time in this event." Even the two semifinal games, "while not quite as intense as the final, were a step up from previous years." Kane said, "A lot more intensity as far as guys trying when they had the puck. I think it's definitely a step in the right direction. I think we wanted to come out and make sure we were a little more intense than last year. I think it was a job well done by the players" (ESPN.com, 1/31).
CHANGE OF PACE: In Chicago, Chris Kuc writes the NHL with its new format "sent a jolt through the exhibition game, which has lacked excitement and interest in previous incarnations." It proved to be "a gimmick that worked because there was no longer a pretense that the players were participating in anything that resembled a real hockey game" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/1). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes the NHL has "stumbled on a format worth watching for the All-Star Game, which had become something not worth watching in recent years." The three-on-three format "takes checking out of the game anyway and now gives fans an exciting end-to-end pond-hockey game that was really fun to watch" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/1). In St. Louis, Jeff Gordon writes the league's "bold experiment designed to rejuvenate" the event "worked" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/1). SPORTS ON EARTH's DeLessio writes the three-on-three format "actually worked." It "wasn't quite the breakneck pace we've gotten used to seeing during regular season overtimes, but that's to be expected." If nothing else, the new format "added a wrinkle to a game that had gotten stale" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 2/1).
SOUTHERN COMFORT: In L.A., Helene Elliott writes with "great concerts, warm hospitality and an outdoor Winter Park that drew crowds downtown, Nashville produced an NHL All-Star experience that won raves from all who participated." Capitals coach Barry Trotz, who coached the Metropolitan Division team, said, "Nashville set the bar really, really high. It's going to be tough for the next cities to match" (L.A. TIMES, 2/1). In Nashville, Jessica Bliss writes the NHL "upped the entertainment factor, and for the first time added to the NHL Fan Fair experience an outdoor element that featured Nashville's own stars." Winter Park "became a fan hub with an ice skating rink and huge, free concerts." Players "raved about Nashville's restaurants and entertainment scene," and even Bettman "spouted about the proximity of all the events to Lower Broadway" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/1). NBC Sports' Kathryn Tappen said Nashville and the Predators "have truly outdone themselves," as there was live music "being played around town all day, every day" ("Today," NBC, 1/31). Bettman: "We’ve had all kinds of concerts at the Bridgestone Winter Park, so we’re hearing music non-stop. There’s just a warmth and a vibe and an energy to Nashville that is palpable" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/1).
