Red Wings' Green gets two goals and an assist in All-Star Game

TAMPA -- While Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov and Boston's Brad Marchand were getting all the attention, positive and negative, Mike Green quietly had himself a very nice All-Star Game.
After getting one assist on Marchand's goal in the Atlantic Division's 7-4 victory over the Metropolitan Division, Green scored both goals for the Atlantic in a 5-2 loss to the Pacific Division in the championship of the 2018 NHL All-Star Game at Tampa's Amalie Arena Sunday.

As usual, Green was humble.

"I guess anybody can get lucky," Green said, smiling.
Marchand, who assisted on both of Green's goals, was a bit more effusive when asked about his teammate for the weekend.
"Phenomenal player," Marchand said. "I always loved the way he plays, so skilled and talented. Hate playing against him because he makes plays around you all the time. Very tough to play against. Lot of fun to play with him. He had a couple great goals and made some real nice plays. Great to see that talent and play with him rather than against him."
Green said he enjoyed spending time with players that he normally played against during the game.
"It was a great time," Green said. "Like I said earlier, I wanted to really talk to the guys, and it was nice to get to know the guys that I didn't know. Unfortunately, we didn't win but we still had a blast."
Green said he also enjoyed his second All-Star red carpet walk.
"Kind of all the same but obviously fun to be around this sort of event so it's been good," Green said. "It's good to see the kids."
Green said this All-Star Game was more meaningful to him because his son, Axel, was able to be there to enjoy it.
At not quite two, Axel maybe won't remember everything but Green said he's had fun.
"To be honest, I think (he liked) the little beach thing we have at the hotel," Green said. "We took him down there today."
Of course, the kids will often ask the players questions while the players sign autographs along the red carpet.
"The most common question I get is what was it like to play with (Washington Capitals' Alex) Ovechkin so I get that a lot.
"I tell them he's a great player and he was good to play with."
One reporter told Green after the game that Ovechkin said he would love to have Green back in Washington.
Green's three-year contract ends after this season so speculation has already started about where he might end up if the Wings trade him.
"Oh, he did?" Green said noncommittally. "It was nice to kind of catch up with him, too. I heard a lot of talk. It is what it is."
Marchand said whichever team got Green would be getting an excellent player.
"He's obviously played a long time in the league, a lot of experience," Marchand said. "He's had some good runs. The way he plays is very skilled, very talented, very poised on the back end. In this league, when you have D that can break the puck out and make a really good first pass and create the things that he can create, it really adds a ton to your offense.
"He's a phenomenal player, always has been. If he does get moved, he's going to be a great acquisition."
Kucherov scored a hat trick in the first game against the Metropolitan Division, the final one a deceptive move that he has used before.
"We asked him what's going through your mind? Do you think about that before you get the puck?" Green said. "He just said, 'Ahh.' It just comes natural to him. It's very impressive."
After that goal, the fans tossed their hats onto the ice and then Atlantic Division coach Jon Cooper encouraged the players to join in.
"It was great," Cooper said. "All the guys on the bench threw their helmets on the ice. He's a magical player. He used that move once in a shootout last year against Buffalo. I wasn't sure we were going to see it again. That was in a shootout, so you have time to think about it. This one he didn't really have time to think about it and still pulled it off. That's what these are for, to showcase talent and the boys showcased it tonight."
While Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Brayden Point and Andrei Vasilevskiy were all celebrated by the hometown fans, those same fans were less enthralled with Marchand, even though technically he was on their Atlantic Division team.
The fans booed Marchand except when he scored against the Metropolitan Division.
Then they seemed befuddled as Marchand waved to the crowd.

"I don't think they were cheering for me," Marchand said. "I think they were cheering for Point to get an assist."
As for Green, Cooper shared a story about having him on his Atlantic Division team.
"OK, so I'm going to let this one out of the bag," Cooper said. "Jeff Blashill sent me a text right after the game saying, 'you needed a few more Wings on the team' and I sent one back to him that said, 'He finally got some good coaching.' It was great having him. He's been doing that for a long time. Greener has had his injury issues and (there was some question) whether he was going to play much longer.
"You look at him out there tonight and he was one of the top players. Had we won the game, maybe Kuch would have got MVP but Green would have been right behind him. He was great for us."
MICHIGAN NATIVES: There were two players from Michigan making their All-Star debut in Grosse Pointe's Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Commerce's Connor Hellebuyck.
"It's been fun," Hellebuyck said. "I've seen a lot of smiles here and seen everyone enjoying it. This is new to me, the red carpet's pretty fun."
Werenski replaced teammate Seth Jones, who was ill and couldn't make it.
"It's been great," Werenski said. "It's something I've grown up watching and always wanted to be a part of and just to be here now and be around these guys, it's been fantastic."
Both were proud to represent not only their teams but the mitten state.
"Michigan's a great hockey hub and I think it just speaks volumes how many guys are here," Werenski said.
Said Hellebuyck: "I think it's going the right way. I think Minnesota has a really good state for hockey and Michigan is right there with them. Good high school hockey, good midget and just growing up, the atmosphere is always good."
NOT SUBBAN: You know what they say about kids saying the darnedest things.
There was a funny moment on the red carpet as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty made his way down the red carpet.
One young fan told Doughty, "You're my second favorite player!"
Doughty laughed and said, "Not your first favorite?"
The kid responded, "P.K. Subban!"
Thoroughly chastened, Doughty said, "Oh, OK."
Obviously this wouldn't have happened at last year's All-Star Game in Los Angeles.
But Doughty got the last laugh as he scored a goal in each game and added an assist as the Pacific Division emerged victorious.