KANATA, Ont. -- In the Team Chara locker room at Scotiabank Place during the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, three longtime friends cracked jokes in their native language that no one else in the room could understand. This was the Slovak section of Team Chara, a row of stalls occupied by three of the game's best players.
With Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara serving as captain and namesake for the winning team in the 12-9 contest, Slovakia was set to figure prominently in the game. But a three-goal MVP performance from countryman Marian Gaborik and three-point night from fellow Slovak Marian Hossa made it a momentous event in the country's sports history. That these three players all hail from Trencin, a western Slovakian town of roughly 56,000 inhabitants, is impressive enough.
But from the same street?
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2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
All-Star Game latest chapter in Slovaks' long friendship
Monday, 01.30.2012 / 6:15 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer
Players thrilled to greet Drake at All-Star Game
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 10:27 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer
KANATA, Ont. -- While the world's greatest hockey players congregated in their locker rooms at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Sunday, the biggest star in attendance may have been without skates.
Surrounded by his security detail, platinum-selling artist Drake visited the players, eliciting an exciting response from countless players, many of whom asked the hip-hop star to pose with them for photographs during the first intermission of the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game.
"That's a good shot," Drake said after posing for a photo with the Sedin twins. "I need that one for the house."
Surrounded by his security detail, platinum-selling artist Drake visited the players, eliciting an exciting response from countless players, many of whom asked the hip-hop star to pose with them for photographs during the first intermission of the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game.
"That's a good shot," Drake said after posing for a photo with the Sedin twins. "I need that one for the house."
Goalies find common ground at All-Star Game
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 9:48 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer
In the NHL's goaltending fraternity, friendships can develop through the shared experience of facing 100 MPH slap shots. At the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game, a 12-9 affair in which allowing three goals in a period was considered a good night, goalies had little trouble finding common ground.
Impressive as it is for any goaltender to appear in the NHL All-Star Game, the honor comes with its share of pitfalls. After all, it's hard for a goaltender to shine when the League's most talented players decide to focus on scoring instead of backchecking and blocking shots. For the six goaltenders participating at the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game, there were plenty of topics to discuss. Strategy wasn't one of them.
Impressive as it is for any goaltender to appear in the NHL All-Star Game, the honor comes with its share of pitfalls. After all, it's hard for a goaltender to shine when the League's most talented players decide to focus on scoring instead of backchecking and blocking shots. For the six goaltenders participating at the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game, there were plenty of topics to discuss. Strategy wasn't one of them.
Hartnell falls four times at ASG, will donate $4,000
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 9:34 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff Writer
KANATA, Ont. -- Scott Hartnell was willing to take a hit Sunday in an effort to raise money for charity -- literally.
The Philadelphia Flyers' All-Star promised to donate $1,000 for every time he fell during the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game as part of his Hartnell Down campaign to raise money for charity for each time he falls to the ice this season.
The Philadelphia Flyers' All-Star promised to donate $1,000 for every time he fell during the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game as part of his Hartnell Down campaign to raise money for charity for each time he falls to the ice this season.
Alfie caps perfect weekend with two-goal game
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 9:31 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Erin Nicks - NHL.com Correspondent
KANATA, Ont. -- He may not have been awarded the Most Valuable Player award Sunday, but Daniel Alfredsson will always be Ottawa's biggest All-Star.
The Sens' captain scored two goals in the second period of the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, and would have scored a hat trick if not for the play of Tim Thomas, who was in net for Team Chara during the third period.
"I didn't even try at all in the third (period) to score," Alfredsson said, eliciting humor with his deadpan approach.
The Sens' captain scored two goals in the second period of the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game on Sunday, and would have scored a hat trick if not for the play of Tim Thomas, who was in net for Team Chara during the third period.
"I didn't even try at all in the third (period) to score," Alfredsson said, eliciting humor with his deadpan approach.
Tim Thomas wins fourth-straight All-Star Game
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 9:31 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer
KANATA, Ont. -- Having won the three previous NHL All-Star Games, Tim Thomas knows the tricks that give you a chance to win a game that is not kind to goalies.
"In these types of games really the only chance you have to have your name on the record as the winning goalie is if you play in the third period," Thomas said. "You can get a shutout in the first period and still not end up with the win, probably won't end up with the win. That's why I wanted to play the third period."
"In these types of games really the only chance you have to have your name on the record as the winning goalie is if you play in the third period," Thomas said. "You can get a shutout in the first period and still not end up with the win, probably won't end up with the win. That's why I wanted to play the third period."
Gaborik burns Lundqvist, earns MVP honors
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 8:46 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff Writer
KANATA, Ont. -- Henrik Lundqvist can take solace in the fact that Marian Gaborik will be his teammate through 2013-14.
A case can be made that Lundqvist is the best goaltender in the world, but he has yet to solve Gaborik, his New York Rangers teammate. With the pair on opposite sides for Sunday's 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Place, Gaborik once again got the best of Lundqvist. Gaborik beat Lundqvist twice during the first period and added another goal and assist to capture MVP honors in Team Chara's 12-9 victory against Team Alfredsson.
Lundqvist (@HLundqvist30) and Gaborik (@MGaborik10) talked trash throughout All-Star weekend over Twitter, but it was the Slovak sniper who backed it up during the culmination of a spectacular weekend.
A case can be made that Lundqvist is the best goaltender in the world, but he has yet to solve Gaborik, his New York Rangers teammate. With the pair on opposite sides for Sunday's 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Place, Gaborik once again got the best of Lundqvist. Gaborik beat Lundqvist twice during the first period and added another goal and assist to capture MVP honors in Team Chara's 12-9 victory against Team Alfredsson.
Lundqvist (@HLundqvist30) and Gaborik (@MGaborik10) talked trash throughout All-Star weekend over Twitter, but it was the Slovak sniper who backed it up during the culmination of a spectacular weekend.
Weber's comfort as star has improved overall game
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 8:45 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Dave Lozo - NHL.com Staff Writer
NEW YORK -- Is it possible Shea Weber has become one of the NHL's best defensemen because Shea Weber is embracing the idea that he's one of the NHL's best defensemen?
That's the rationale of Barry Trotz, who has coached Weber since he was a 21-year-old rookie in 2005-06 and watched him develop into a perennial Norris Trophy candidate and an All-Star for the third time this season.
"I think in terms of his game, it's raised in the sense that he's always been good offensively and he's always been physical and all that," Trotz told NHL.com. "Where he's raised his game is he's more comfortable as Shea Weber as an elite player in the National Hockey League. A lot of players make the statement the player has arrived. Well, he has arrived. He's arrived not only as a player, he's done that the last few years, but he's arrived as an elite player in the League and an elite leader."
Alfie steals spotlight with two second-period goals
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 6:09 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
NHL.com
Daniel Alfredsson has seized the moment in the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game.
Alfredsson, the captain of the Senators, scored two goals 91 seconds apart to turn a one-goal deficit for his Team Alfredsson into a one-goal lead for the team that features all four of the Senators in the All-Star Game.
Alfredsson received a standing ovation after each of his goals and was also serenaded by chants of "Alfie, Alfie" from the sell-out crowd at Scotiabank Place.
Alfredsson, the captain of the Senators, scored two goals 91 seconds apart to turn a one-goal deficit for his Team Alfredsson into a one-goal lead for the team that features all four of the Senators in the All-Star Game.
Alfredsson received a standing ovation after each of his goals and was also serenaded by chants of "Alfie, Alfie" from the sell-out crowd at Scotiabank Place.
H.E.R.O.S. program introduces hockey to youth
Sunday, 01.29.2012 / 4:24 PM / 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game
Tal Pinchevsky - NHL.com Staff Writer
As the 2012 Tim Horton's NHL All-Star Game descended on Canada's capital, a collection of prominent people congregated at Ottawa's historic Rideau Hall to welcome a program aimed at aiding area youth. With Canadian Governor General David Johnston serving as host, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, and NHL ambassador Willie O’Ree came together to help launch the latest entry in the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (H.E.R.O.S.) program.
With 11 programs in seven cities across Canada and with one group operating in Ireland, H.E.R.O.S. has served more than 2,800 boys and girls since its founding in 1999. At the Rideau Hall event, officials honored the program as well as a group of 15 youths selected by the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa to attend the event. Before skating on the Hall’s famous outdoor rink, the kids were also surprised by Melnyk, who presented them with tickets to an upcoming Senators game.
With 11 programs in seven cities across Canada and with one group operating in Ireland, H.E.R.O.S. has served more than 2,800 boys and girls since its founding in 1999. At the Rideau Hall event, officials honored the program as well as a group of 15 youths selected by the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa to attend the event. Before skating on the Hall’s famous outdoor rink, the kids were also surprised by Melnyk, who presented them with tickets to an upcoming Senators game.
- Players thrilled to greet Drake at All-Star Game ››
- Two goals give Gabby early upper hand in ASG ››
- Super-Kane: Clark Kane | Shattered puck ››
- Chara sets record retaining Hardest Shot title ››
- Hartnell falls four times at ASG, will donate $4k ››
- Tim Thomas wins fourth-straight All-Star Game ››
- All-Stars tweet their thoughts about Skills ››
- Fan Cam: Find yourself at 2012 All-Star Game ››
- Columbus named as 2013 All-Star Game host ››
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