All-Star Game rosters, notes and live game thread

Via the NHL…

3-ON-3 FORMAT RETURNS TO ALL-STAR GAME

For the second consecutive year, the Honda NHL All-Star Game features a 3-on-3 All-Star Tournament. The format divides the All-Star Game into three 20-minute games, with star players from each Division making up the four All-Star teams: Pacific, Central, Atlantic, and Metropolitan. Players are facing off for a winner-take-all $1 million prize.

Each game will be 20 minutes in length. Teams will change ends at the 10-minute mark of each game. Games that are tied after 20 minutes will be decided by a shootout.

As the winning team in the 2017 Coors Light NHL Skills Competition, the Atlantic Division All-Stars:
* elected to play the second game today
* elected to face the Metropolitan Division All-Stars

Accordingly, the Pacific Division will face the Central Division in the first of two semifinal games, followed by the Atlantic Division against the Metropolitan Division in the second semifinal.

The winner of each semifinal will face off in the Final.

2017 HONDA NHL ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS

Atlantic Division / # / ASG
F Nikita Kucherov (TBL) 86 1st
F Brad Marchand (BOS) 63 1st
F Auston Matthews (TOR) 34 1st
F Frans Nielsen (DET) 51 1st
F Kyle Okposo (BUF) 21 1st
F Vincent Trocheck (FLA) 21 1st
D Victor Hedman (TBL) 77 1st
D Erik Karlsson (OTT) 65 4th
D Shea Weber (MTL) 6 6th
G Carey Price (MTL) 31 5th
G Tuukka Rask (BOS) 40 1st
Captain: Carey Price
Head Coach: Michel Therrien (MTL)

Metropolitan Division / # / ASG
F Sidney Crosby (PIT) 87 2nd
F Taylor Hall (NJD) 9 2nd
F Cam Atkinson (CBJ) 13 1st
F Alex Ovechkin (WSH) 8 6th
F Wayne Simmonds (PHI) 17 1st
F John Tavares (NYI) 91 4th
D Justin Faulk (CAR) 27 3rd
D Seth Jones (CBJ) 3 1st
D Ryan McDonagh (NYR) 27 2nd
G Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ) 72 1st
G Braden Holtby (WSH) 70 2nd
Captain: Sidney Crosby
Head Coach: Wayne Gretzky (replacing John Tortorella, CBJ)

Central Division / # / ASG
F Patrick Kane (CHI) 88 6th
F Patrik Laine (WPG) 29 1st
F Nathan MacKinnon (COL) 29 1st
F Tyler Seguin (DAL) 91 4th
F Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) 91 3rd
F Jonathan Toews (CHI) 19 4th
D Duncan Keith (CHI) 2 4th
D P.K. Subban (NSH) 76 2nd
D Ryan Suter (MIN) 20 3rd
G Corey Crawford (CHI) 50 2nd
G Devan Dubnyk (MIN) 40 2nd
Captain: P.K. Subban
Head Coach: Bruce Boudreau (MIN)

Pacific Division / # / ASG
F Jeff Carter (LAK) 77 2nd
F Johnny Gaudreau (CGY) 13 3rd
F Bo Horvat (VAN) 53 1st
F Ryan Kesler (ANA) 17 2nd
F Connor McDavid (EDM) 97 1st
F Joe Pavelski (SJS) 8 2nd
D Brent Burns (SJS) 88 4th
D Drew Doughty (LAK) 8 3rd
D Cam Fowler (ANA) 4 1st
G Martin Jones (SJS) 31 1st
G Mike Smith (ARI) 41 1st
Captain: Connor McDavid
Head Coach: Peter DeBoer (SJS)

ADDITIONAL ALL-STAR FORMAT NOTES

* All NHL Rules apply to each game.
* There will be a hard whistle at the 10-minute mark of each game. At this time, teams and goalies will change ends.
* Video Review will be used to confirm all goals. NHL Hockey Operations will initiate any potential coach’s challenge reviews.
* All minor penalties will be one minute in length. Manpower advantages during these penalties will reflect current NHL Rules, where at no time will a team have fewer than three players on the ice – this may require a fourth and/or fifth skater to be added.

ALL-STAR ENTERTAINMENT

Pop superstars Nick Jonas, Fifth Harmony and Carly Rae Jepsen will lead the entertainment for the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game.

Carly Rae Jepsen will open the pregame festivities with a performance of the Canadian national anthem followed by Fifth Harmony’s rendition of the U.S. national anthem. Grammy nominated recording artist Nick Jonas will command the ice during the second intermission with a live performance. The NHL will honor the 100 Greatest NHL Players in a special pregame ceremony.

ALL-STAR GAME OFFICIALS

The referees for today’s game are Mike Leggo (#3) and Kelly Sutherland (#11). The linesmen are Steve Barton (#59) and David Brisebois (#96). Leggo worked the 2007 All-Star Game in Dallas, while Sutherland, Barton and Brisebois are making their All-Star debut.

NHL ALL-STAR GAME IN LOS ANGELES

* This year marks the third time NHL All-Star activities are taking place in Los Angeles. The Kings previously hosted the NHL signature event in 1981 at the Forum and in 2002 at STAPLES Center.

1981 NHL All-Star Game – Campbell Conference All-Stars 4, Wales Conference All-Stars 1

The Kings’ “Triple Crown Line” of Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor formed one of the Prince of Wales Conference All-Stars’ offensive trios. Bill Barber notched a shorthanded goal, the game-winning tally, and an assist, and Mike Liut turned aside 25 shots in over 31 minutes of work record the victory. Liut’s shutout performance earned him MVP honors. Campbell Conference All-Star Wayne Gretzky recorded his first All-Star point with an assist on Behn Wilson’s goal in the third period.

2002 NHL All-Star Game – World All-Stars 8, North America All-Stars 5

The game was highlighted by Mario Lemieux’s 13th career goal which tied Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored in NHL All-Star Game competition. Three players notched a game-leading three points each: North America All-Stars Eric Daze (2-1–3) and Vincent Damphousse (1-2–3), and World All-Star Markus Naslund (2-1–3). Daze, who was appearing in his first All-Star Game, was named the game’s MVP, becoming the first Chicago Blackhawks player to receive the honor since Bobby Hull in 1971.

NOTES ON 3-ON-3 OVERTIME

* The 3-on-3 overtime format, introduced for regular-season play in 2015-16, has decided more games. A total of 121 of the 186 games that have required overtime this season have been decided in the extra period (65%). In 2014-15, the last season under the 4-on-4 format, the percentage of overtime periods with goals was 44% (136 of 306).

* January 2017 has seen the highest percentage of games decided in overtime of any calendar month since the current regular-season OT format was introduced in 2015-16. A total of 33 of 41 NHL OT games this month have ended with a goal (80%).

* The average length of overtime to date this season is 3:09. The season-ending figure in 2014-15 was 3:55.

Top Regular-Season Overtime Goal-Scorers Since 2015-16

1. Jeff Carter, Los Angeles (Pacific Division All-Star) 7
2. Jonathan Toews, Chicago (Central Division All-Star) 5
T-3. Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary (Pacific Division All-Star) 4
T-3. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis (Central Division All-Star) 4
T-3. Alex Ovechkin, Washington (Metropolitan Division All-Star) 4
(six other players tied with Gaudreau, Tarasenko and Ovechkin for third overall)

Harry How / Getty Images

NHL ALL-STAR JERSEYS

The NHL’s Centennial, the Los Angeles Kings’ 50th anniversary, previous NHL All-Star Games and the Hollywood setting all influenced the design of the jerseys that will be worn during the 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game.

The four NHL All-Star teams will wear jerseys that feature colors worn by the Kings during their 50year history: purple (Forum Blue), gold, black and white. The use silver also is a nod to the NHL Centennial logo and NHL Shield.

The Pacific Division will wear the black jersey. The Atlantic Division will wear gold, the Central Division will wear purple and the Metropolitan Division will wear white.

Each jersey features a band of stars that is reminiscent of the uniforms worn in NHL All-Star Games from 1989-91. Each of the 10 stars represents a decade in the 100-year history of the League. Four stars on the socks represent the four divisions in the NHL today.

The 2017 NHL All-Star patch is located on the right shoulder, while a full-color team patch for each player is found on the left shoulder.

The custom font for the numbers and player names is inspired by the letters in the iconic HOLLYWOOD sign.

ALL-STAR GAME QUICK HITS

* When the All-Star showcase first visited Los Angeles in 1981, there were 3,435 registered hockey players in California. In 2002, when the Kings again played host to the All-Star Game, the number had increased to 17,065. Today the figure has expanded to 28,296. Only six states have more registered players: Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois and Pennsylvania.

* Wayne Gretzky, who will coach the Metropolitan Division All-Stars in the absence of Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, has an illustrious All-Star resume. He ranks third all-time in career appearances with 18, trailing only Gordie Howe (23) and Ray Bourque (19). He holds the record for career points (13-12–25), shares first overall in career goals (13) with Mario Lemieux and is the only player to notch four goals in a single period.

* Five participants in the 2017 NHL All-Star Game were selected in the 2010 NHL Draft held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, including the top two overall picks that year: F Taylor Hall (1st overall) and F Tyler Seguin (2nd overall). The other three, in order of selection: D Cam Fowler (12th overall), F Vladimir Tarasenko (16th overall) and D Justin Faulk (37th overall).

* Forty-three years ago today, Frank Mahovlich completed a record string of 15 consecutive All-Star appearances as his East Division All-Stars fell to the West Division 6-4 at Chicago Stadium on Jan. 29, 1974. Mahovlich scored his eighth All-Star goal to place second behind Gordie Howe (10) in career goal scoring.

* The 2017 NHL All-Stars with the most career appearances in the midseason showcase are Blackhawks F Patrick Kane, Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin and Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber, each of whom will be skating in his sixth career game. Right behind this talented trio is Canadiens G Carey Price, who will be appearing in his fifth All-Star Game.

* Nineteen players will be making their NHL All-Star Game debut, the same number as for the 2015 game in Columbus and the 2016 contest in Nashville.

* The 2017 Honda NHL All-Star Game MVP will be determined by an in-arena fan vote. The winner will receive a 2017 Honda Ridgeline truck.

* It has been 20 years since a defenseman captured NHL All-Star Game MVP honors (Ray Bourque, 1996) and 22 years since a goaltender captured the award (Mike Richter, 1994).

* Penguins forward Mario Lemieux became the first rookie to earn NHL All-Star MVP honors in 1985. There are two rookies in today’s game, the first two overall picks at the 2016 NHL Draft: Toronto Maple Leafs/Atlantic Division forward Auston Matthews and Winnipeg Jets/Central Division forward Patrik Laine.

* Two Kings players will attempt to capture Honda NHL All-Star Game MVP honors in front of their home fans: D Drew Doughty and F Jeff Carter.

* The first NHL All-Star Game, held at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, matched the defending Stanley Cup champion Maple Leafs against the NHL All-Stars. The All-Stars overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat Toronto 4-3.

* Prior to the first NHL All-Star Game in 1947, the concept of pitting the NHL’s elite against each other was used in three games staged to benefit the families of former NHL stars Ace Bailey (1934), Howie Morenz (1937) and Babe Siebert (1939).

* The 1967 NHL All-Star Game marked the first time the game was played midseason, rather than prior to the start of the regular schedule.

Dave Sandford / NHLI

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