The 2012 National Hockey League All-Star Game, (also known as the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game) took place on January 29, 2012, at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa. This edition of the All-Star Game featured the "fantasy draft" format first seen in the previous 2011 NHL All-Star Game. The participating players voted for team captains, selecting Daniel Alfredsson of the All-Star host Ottawa Senators and Zdeno Chara of the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, himself also a former Senator.
The event marked the first time the city of Ottawa hosted an NHL All-Star Game. Ottawa has hosted two NHL entry drafts, a Stanley Cup Final and the World Junior Championships all in the past five years. It marked the 20th anniversary of the Ottawa Senators joining the NHL. It was the second All-Star Game that Canada has hosted in the past three years, as the Montreal Canadiens hosted it in 2009. Winning goaltender Tim Thomas became the only goaltender in NHL history to win four consecutive All-Star games.
Rosters Fan balloting Voting for NHL all-star players started on November 14, 2011. Online voting required fans to register with the NHL.com web site, with votes limited to 30 votes per "platform", i.e. desktop computer, web-enabled mobile devices and SMS text. Fans were presented a list of 127 players, sub-divided into Forwards, Defence and Goaltending. Three forwards, two defence and one goaltender could be selected from the League-wide list of players. The selection of League-wide list of players was done in 2011, which used the "fantasy team" format.
After voting closed, Erik Karlsson was the leading vote-getter with 939,951. Senators fans voted in force, electing not only Karlsson but all three forwards as well (Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek) to the starting lineup. The only skater not coming from the hometown Senators was Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Dion Phaneuf. Phaneuf beat out Senators defenceman Sergei Gonchar by only 11,305 votes. Reigning Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Tim Thomas was elected as the fan-voted goaltender.
Number#NamePos.TeamVotes11RWOttawa Senators897,05519COttawa Senators817,4839LWOttawa Senators743,97765DOttawa Senators939,9513DToronto Maple Leafs614,93330GBoston Bruins626,540
Draft After naming the remaining All-Stars, the participating players voted for team captains, selecting Daniel Alfredsson of the hosting Ottawa Senators and Zdeno Chara of the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. Alfredsson's team would wear white, while Team Chara would wear blue. The NHL named the coaches: head coach Claude Julien, and assistants Doug Houda, Doug Jarvis and Geoff Ward of the Boston Bruins for Team Chara; and John Tortorella of the New York Rangers and Todd McLellan of the San Jose Sharks as co-coaches for Team Alfredsson.
The draft of the players took place on January 26, 2012, from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Eastern time. It was held at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy, in Gatineau, Quebec. Team Chara won the puck flip and selected first.
+ Team Alfredsson (Home) Round Nat. Player Team Pos. Num.C Daniel AlfredssonOttawa SenatorsRW11A Henrik LundqvistNew York RangersG301 Erik Karlsson Ottawa SenatorsD652 Jason Spezza Ottawa Senators C 193 Jonathan Quick Los Angeles KingsG324 Claude Giroux Philadelphia Flyers C 285 Kris Letang Pittsburgh PenguinsD586 Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning C 917 Brian Elliott St. Louis BluesG18 Shea Weber Nashville PredatorsD69 Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks LW 2210 Dan Girardi New York RangersD511 Keith Yandle Phoenix CoyotesD312 Milan Michalek Ottawa Senators LW 913 Henrik Sedin Vancouver Canucks C 3314 James Neal Pittsburgh Penguins LW 1815 Alexander Edler Vancouver CanucksD2316 John Tavares New York Islanders C 9117 Scott Hartnell Philadelphia Flyers LW 1918 Jason Pominville Buffalo Sabres RW 2919 Logan Couture San Jose Sharks C 39–Co-head coach: John Tortorella–––Co-head coach: Todd McLellan––
+ Team Chara (Away) Round Nat. Player Team Pos. Num.C Zdeno CharaBoston BruinsD33A Joffrey Lupul Toronto Maple Leafs RW 191 Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings C 132 Tim Thomas Boston BruinsG303 Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins C 714 Marian Hossa Chicago Blackhawks RW 815 Kimmo Timonen Philadelphia FlyersD446 Corey Perry Anaheim Ducks RW 107 Carey Price Montreal CanadiensG318 Phil Kessel Toronto Maple Leafs RW 819 Ryan Suter Nashville PredatorsD2010 Jimmy Howard Detroit Red WingsG3511 Brian Campbell Florida PanthersD5112 Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks RW 8813 Dion Phaneuf Toronto Maple LeafsD314 Jarome Iginla Calgary Flames RW 1215 Dennis Wideman Washington CapitalsD616 Marian Gaborik New York Rangers RW 1017 Jordan Eberle Edmonton Oilers RW 1418 Tyler Seguin Boston Bruins C 1919 Jamie Benn Dallas Stars LW 14–Head coach: Claude Julien–––Assistant coaches: Doug Houda, Doug Jarvis and Geoff Ward ––
Rookies
+ Team Alfredsson Rookies Nat. Player Team Pos. Num. Sean Couturier Philadelphia Flyers C 14 Justin Faulk Carolina Hurricanes D 28 Carl Hagelin New York Rangers LW 62 Nick Johnson Minnesota Wild RW/LW 25 Matt Read Philadelphia Flyers RW 24 Craig Smith Nashville Predators C 15
+ Team Chara Rookies Nat. Player Team Pos. Num. Luke Adam Buffalo Sabres C 72 Raphael Diaz Montreal Canadiens D 61 Colin Greening Ottawa Senators LW 14 Cody Hodgson Vancouver Canucks C 9 Ryan Johansen Columbus Blue Jackets C 19 Gabriel Landeskog Colorado Avalanche LW 92
Source: NHL.
Withdrawn Prior to the draft several players withdrew due to injury or personal reasons:
NumberNat.NameTeamPos.Reason and replacement Mikko Koivu Minnesota Wild C Left shoulder injury, replaced by Jordan Eberle Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals LW Voluntary withdrawal because of suspension (although the All-Star Game does not count as a game with respect tosuspensions), replaced by James Neal Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks C Hand injury, replaced by Scott Hartnell Dustin Byfuglien Winnipeg Jets D Knee injury, replaced by Kris Letang Adam Henrique (rookie) New Jersey Devils C Groin injury, replaced by Carl Hagelin on rookie roster Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (rookie) Edmonton Oilers C Left shoulder injury, replaced by Nick Johnson on rookie roster Adam Larsson (rookie) New Jersey Devils D Wrist injury, replaced by Raphael Diaz on rookie roster
Game summary The game was played from 4pm until 7pm local time. It was broadcast nationally in Canada on CBC, and in the United States on the NBC Sports Network. Singer-songwriter Outasight performed "Tonight Is the Night" during the player introductions. Canadian rapper Drake performed during the second intermission. The Voice season 1 winner Javier Colon sang the American national anthem while retired Ontario Provincial Police officer and Ottawa Senators anthem singer Lyndon Slewidge accompanied by the Governor General's Foot Guards Band sang the Canadian national anthem in English and French.
Team Alfredsson 9 – 12(3-3, 3-3, 3-6) Team CharaScotiabank Place (20,510)Ottawa, Ontario First period 4:34 Gaborik (Datsyuk) Referees: 5:38 Malkin (Iginla) Eric Furlatt 10:09 Gaborik (2) (Hossa, Suter) Brad Kovachik Spezza (Girardi, Michalek) 10:36 Linesmen: H. Sedin (Hartnell, Letang) 12:51 Tim Peel Tavares (Pominville, Yandle) 13:49 Derek Amell Second period MVP: Marian Gaborik 1:23 Gaborik (3) (Hossa, Datsyuk) 3:33 Lupul (Kessel) Pominville (Neal, Stamkos) 7:17 Alfredsson 14:33 Alfredsson (2) (D. Sedin, H. Sedin) 16:04 18:24 Kane (Eberle) Third period 4:12 Kessel (Campbell) Michalek (Tavares, Spezza) 5:21 7:45 Iginla (Malkin, Perry) Giroux (Hartnell, Couture) 9:40 12:04 Hossa (Datsyuk) 12:20 Chara (GWG) (Gaborik) 13:26 Perry (Iginla, Wideman) D. Sedin (H. Sedin, Alfredsson) 14:20 15:33 Lupul (2) (Seguin, Kessel) W – Tim Thomas L – Brian Elliott
Missed penalty shot: Stamkos, TAS, 16:33 first. Shots on goal: Team Alfredsson: 14-15-21-50. Team Chara: 12-13-19-44.
Source: NHL.
SuperSkills Competition The competition was held at Scotiabank Place on January 28, 2012 between 7pm and 10pm local time. It was broadcast nationally in Canada on CBC, and in the United States on the NBC Sports Network.
Fastest Skater In this event, pairs of skaters raced each other simultaneously on parallel courses on the rink. Each race was worth one point for their winning racer's team, and the fastest two skaters then had a final race for another point.
HeatTeam AlfredssonTime (sec)Time (sec)Team Chara 1 Kris Letang 14.501 14.826 Brian Campbell 2 Jonathan Quick 16.939 17.514 Jimmy Howard 3 Carl Hagelin 12.993 12.963 Colin Greening 4 Keith Yandle 13.731 13.203 Phil Kessel 5 Erik Karlsson 13.021 13.343 Marian Hossa Final Hagelin 13.218 13.303 Greening Event score: 4–2 Team AlfredssonOverall score: 4–2 Team Alfredsson
Breakaway Challenge In this competition, competitors skated with the puck and attempted to score on the opposing team's goalie. The winner was also judged on their presentation. The winner was determined by SMS messages sent to the NHL. The winner, Patrick Kane, donned a Superman cape and Clark Kent-style glasses, skated in and dove to the ice, passed the puck from his left hand to his stick held in his right hand and scored. Runner-up Corey Perry threw away his stick and gloves and removed a hidden mini-stick from his equipment. He then skated in and deked out the goaltender with his stick. Kane, in his second attempt as Superman, shot a puck designed to explode into pieces.
Team AlfredssonVote %Vote %Team Chara Sean Couturier 9% 1% Ryan Johansen John Tavares 8% 47% Patrick Kane Logan Couture 5% 29% Corey Perry Event score: 1–0 Team Chara Overall score: 4–3 Team Alfredsson
Accuracy Shooting In this event, competitors were positioned in front of the net, and were passed the puck from two players situated behind the goal line. The players had to hit targets at the four corners of the net in the fastest time.
HeatTeam AlfredssonTime (sec)Time (sec)Team Chara 1 Matt Read 14.011 20.929 Cody Hodgson 2 Jason Spezza 18.639 30.092 Tyler Seguin 3 Steven Stamkos 44.684 13.583 Jamie Benn 4 Daniel Sedin 21.459 15.846 Marian Hossa Final Read 16.361 10.204 Benn Event score: 3–2 Team Chara Overall score: 6–6
Challenge Relay In this competition, teams were selected from each side. Each player on the team had one skill to complete before the next player could start. The goal was to complete the relay in the fastest time.
HeatTeam AlfredssonTime (min)Time (min)Team Chara 1 Group 1Nick Johnson (One-timer passer)Shea Weber (One-timer RH)Kris Letang (One-timer RH)Steven Stamkos (One-timer RH)Henrik Sedin (Passing accuracy)Milan Michalek (Puck control)Logan Couture (Stick handling)James Neal (Target shooter) 2:28 2:45 Group 1Ryan Suter (One-timer passer)Dennis Wideman (One-timer RH)Jarome Iginla (One-timer RH)Joffrey Lupul (One-timer RH)Patrick Kane (Passing accuracy)Pavel Datsyuk (Puck control)Gabriel Landeskog (Stick handling)Marian Gaborik (Target shooter) 2 Group 2Alexander Edler (One-timer passer)Keith Yandle (One-timer LH)Scott Hartnell (One-timer LH)John Tavares (One-timer LH)Daniel Sedin (Passing accuracy) Craig Smith (Puck control) Claude Giroux (Stick handling) Jason Pominville (Target shooter) 2:08 2:14 Group 2Jordan Eberle (One-timer passer)Dion Phaneuf (One-timer LH)Zdeno Chara (One-timer LH) Jamie Benn (One-timer LH)Kimmo Timonen (Passing accuracy) Raphael Diaz (Puck control)Evgeni Malkin (Stick handling) Phil Kessel (Target shooter) Event score: 3–0 Team Alfredsson Overall score: 9–6 Team Alfredsson
Hardest Shot In this competition, players skated in from the blue line, and slapped a puck as fast as possible on the net.
HeatTeam AlfredssonSpeed (mph)Speed (mph)Team Chara 1 Justin Faulk 95.9 98.3 Luke Adam 2 Daniel Alfredsson 101.3 95.3 Dennis Wideman3 Jason Spezza100.5 97.9 Dion Phaneuf 4 Shea Weber 104.9 108.8* Zdeno CharaFinal Weber 106.0 107.0Chara Event score: 3–2 Team CharaOverall score: 11–9 Team Alfredsson * denotes record
Elimination Shootout