All-Star Game Open Thread; Doughty/Kopitar photos, video

Video Highlights

Johnny Gaudreau (4-6—10 in 6 GP), Brent Burns (2-7—9 in 6 GP) and Drew Doughty (4-5—9 in 6 GP) own the top point totals since the 3-on-3 #NHLAllStar format was introduced. pic.twitter.com/oaFanlL9sP

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 29, 2018

Pacific Division – Central Division

Since the switch to the three-on-three format, the Pacific Division defeated the Atlantic Division in the final in 2016 and lost to the Metropolitan Division in 2017. The Pacific is 2-0 against the Central Division in the semi-finals. The renewal of the rivalry begins at 12:30 p.m. PT.

12:38 Nothing against the fine citizens of Tampa, but I’m glad I was with family and friends yesterday and not at the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Y’arr, I hate the sea and everything in it.
12:48 Recalling how cold it was at Staples Center at last year’s game. Believe Honda Center has overtaken Staples as the coldest rink in the west this season. Ranking the rinks by how cold they are is a favorite pastime of reporters.
12:52 Mrs. Insider tires of the introductions.
12:59 Actual substance:

Lineups for the first All-Star Game semifinal between the Central and Pacific. Starters in bold. pic.twitter.com/VlI6MVcDPn

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 28, 2018

1:02 Notes, via the NHL:

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 GAME OFFICIALS
The referees for today’s game are Dave Jackson (#8) and Wes McCauley (#4). The linesmen are Brian Mach (#78) and Mark Shewchyk (#92). Jackson, the NHL’s longest tenured referee who recently passed the 1,500-game milestone, worked the 2002 All-Star Game in Los Angeles. Mach, McCauley and Shewchyk are making their All-Star debuts.

1:06 Okay sir, you’re a Lebowski, I’m a Lebowski, that’s terrific, but I’m very busy, as I imagine you are.
1:08Loosey-goosey start, as foretold by Doc & Co.
1:09 Glove-side snipe-job from the slot by MacKinnon. He good. 1-0 CENTRAL
1:12 PATENTED DREW DOUGHTY SPIN MOVE
1:14 J.R. thinks Muzz should be an All-Star. [heart-eyed cat emoji]
1:15 Eventually the Pacific will hit the net during a three-on-one.
1:17 Sure, Connor McDavid is pretty skilled, but he couldn’t beat me in Smash Bros. ::McDavid beats JR with three stock to spare::
1:18 Horrrrrrn. Switch sides.

nhl: let's assemble the best offensive players in the game for a 3-on-3 all-star game! think of all the goals!

hockey players: too nice to actually shoot the puck.

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 28, 2018

1:26 There was a very entertainng 1-0 game in the ASG final two years ago. This… isn’t that.
1:27. Wheeler’s back-check snuffs out a Neal chance.
1:28 Hey! Doughty goal. Post-in on a breakaway. Hooray, Drew. 1-1.

All alone, @dewyy8 goes ping and in. #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/lsGElEPkWh

— NHL (@NHL) January 28, 2018

1:32 Don’t quite understand how someone could mispronounce Anze (AHN-zhay) Kopitar after two Cups and an Olympics and World Cup appearance. It’s not ANN-zay.
1:33 Johnny Hockey continues the assault on the goalposts.
1:34 Tic-tac-toe, McDavid-Burns-Real Deal Neal. 2-1 PACIFIC.
1:37 Doughty rebuffed on a skilled mini-break at one end; P.K. Subban breaks free and buries past Mike Smith, who attempted a two-pad stack. 2-2.
1:38 Brock Boeser… ping… and in. Beauty shot. Clipped the crossbar, beat Hellebuyck stick side up high. 3-2 PACIFIC.
1:39 Brent Burns ENG. Petro nearly denied it with a stick check. The Pacific is 82 seconds away from its third straight All-Star championship game appearance. 4-2 PACIFIC.
1:41 James Neal ENG. Stop, stop, he’s already dead. 5-2 PACIFIC.
1:42 ~fin~

Moving on. (via Bruce Bennett/Getty) pic.twitter.com/Lx2cGSQ0mn

— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) January 28, 2018

Doughty interview after scoring his breakaway goal

Video from Reddit user u/vorin#LAKings #GoKingsGo #NHLAllStarGame pic.twitter.com/llxlZNimht

— Eric (@Kingsgifs) January 28, 2018

Photos from Pacific-Central, the mascot game and red carpet arrivals:

Pacific Division – Atlantic Division

3:11 We’re back. Had a nice break. Hung out with baby and watched Sesame Street. Learned about bees. Turned on the end of Atlantic-Metropolitan and baby pointed at the screen and said HOCKEY GAME. Made me smile.
3:29 Hockey being played again. Two big early saves by MAF.
3:30 Rickard Rakell buries the rebound of a Kopitar rebound off a Doughty Feed. The 91 from the 405 and the 10. 1-0 PACIFIC.
3:35 Nice little tap off the boards to himself by Doughty. Leads a two-on-one with Kopitar, but Vasilevskiy shuts the door on his shot.
3:36 Boeser finishes up an odd-angle Gaudreau chance. 2-0 PACIFIC.
3:40 Green slams home a Marchand feed. Point a secondary assist after some impressive keep-away. Marc-Andre Fleury made some impressive stops early, but nothing he could do there. Atlantic on the board. 2-1 PACIFIC.
3:41 Stamkos OMGlances off the crossbar.
3:42 McDavid denied on a breakaway.
3:44 Oh, hey Doughty one-time blast off a give-and-go with Kopitar. Sexy hockey. 3-1 PACIFIC.
3:45 Marchand tripped by Gaudreau and flails around. That’s really funny, actually. One-minute 4-on-3 power play for the Atlantic.
3:46 Stamkos off the pipe. Clink!
3:46: Gaudreau breakaway at the horn. Vasy save.
3:47 Halftime or something or other. I’mma get some snacks.
3:53 Gaudreau goes five-hole even though some sort of mic string tangles his legs up. 4-1 PACIFIC.
3:55 Mike Green again. Post-in. Beauty shot. 4-2 PACIFIC.
3:56 13 goalposts today, so says Doc.
3:59 Doughty-Kopitar-Rakell 3-on-1, but no shot was taken. Kopitar tried to find Doughty with a cross-crease pass that did not connect.
4:02 Pretty slick release going against the grain by Rakell. 5-2 PACIFIC. Kings at Stars on Tuesday.
4:03 Kopitar tries to feed Rakell on a two-on-one, but no dice.
4:05 MIKE SMITH YOU LITERALLY HAD AN OPEN NET AND A CHANCE TO SHOOT ON IT AND PASSED WHY
4:06 OK, that was fun. Smith allowed to take a shot from above the left circle in his own zone, misses wide, icing. Nice try. He’ll settle for a share of $1,000,000.
4:07 WILL SOMEONE STOP THIS PACIFIC DIVISION REIGN OF TERROR (Pacific wins, 5-2.)
4:08 Brock Boeser: NHL All-Star MVP. He spoke with LAKI on Tuesday.

By being named the MVP of the NHL All Star game – #Canucks Brock Boeser earns a $212,500 Schedule A bonus.

He has now earned $637,500 in Schedule A Bonuses (20 goals, Named to All Star Game & All Star MVP) pic.twitter.com/jNPjItvAul

— Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) January 29, 2018

Pacific-Atlantic Photos

-Lead photo via Bruce Bennett/NHLI