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 Captains Jonathan Toews and Nick Foligno selected their sides on
Friday and neither team disappointed in the highest scoring NHL
All-Star Game ever.
The 29-goal total at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, topped the
previous mark of 26 set in 2001.
Tavares, the 24-year-old New York Islanders standout, stole the
headlines but it was hometown favorite Ryan Johansen of the Columbus
Blue Jackets who took MVP honors through a fan vote on Twitter.
"It's pretty cool," Tavares told reporters of his milestone
performance. "It's something you don't really think about going into
a game like this.
 "It's pretty special, and certainly one (game) I won't forget."
Johansen finished with two goals in a losing effort for Team
Foligno.
Jakub Voracek added three goals for the winning team as he played
for former coach Peter Laviolette.
The game maintained a brisk pace throughout and after the contest
was tied at 6-6 in the second period, Team Toews pulled away with
four straight goals and never allowed their opponents to close
within three thereafter.
The free-scoring nature of the game ensured it was a bad night for
the goaltenders, especially Team Foligno's Marc Andre-Fleury, who
stopped only nine of 16 shots in the second period.
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"It was so long, probably the longest 20 minutes of my career,"
Fleury said. "We are at this game to have fun, but at one time, it
was frustrating."
Boston's Patrice Bergeron and Toews each had one goal and four
assists as team mates, while Chicago's Patrick Kane and Tampa Bay's
Steven Stamkos netted two goals apiece for Team Foligno.
The friendly showcase even featured a fake fight late in the second
period when Alex Ovechkin and Foligno pretended to get into an
exchange with Mark Giordano and Brent Seabrook, much to the delight
of the crowd.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter
Rutherford/John O'Brien)
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