RALEIGH, N.C. -- Team Lidstrom held off Team Staal in the final minute to win the 58th All-Star Game, 11-10, today in RBC Center, capping off a successful hockey weekend in North Carolina.
Patrick Sharp was named the most valuable player with a goal and three assists and received a new car for the effort. The gaudy numbers: Nick Lidstrom had only one assist, but he was plus-7. Shea Weber had four assists and was plus-6. Staal outshot Lidstrom, 46-45.
Matt Duchene had the first penalty shot in ASG history after Alex Ovechkin tossed his stick into the path of the forward on a breakaway. It was the only penalty called in a game that had zero icings and no body checks of consequence.
The All-Star Game is headed for Ottawa next season and will take on a different feel. The weekend this year was largely about the NHL selling the game in a non-traditional hockey city, and Raleigh came through as a terrific host.
Now, it's back to the grind of the NHL regular season.
--- Bucky Gleason
