Enforcer celebrated as All-Star Game MVP

Former Anaheim Duck Scott makes most of Nashville trip

Associated Press

NASHVILLE

John Scott sat on his teammates shoulders while fans chanted “M-V-P! M-V-P!” and the NHL finally got out of the way.

The people spoke up for Scott once again Sunday night, making the career journeyman enforcer an All-Star MVP as a write-in candidate after voting him into the new 3-on-3 All-Star tournament as captain of the Pacific Division.

Scott scored twice during the tournament, bringing cheers from fans and smiles from teammates who relished every moment along with the gentle giant and his goofy grin. Scott captained the Pacific to a 1-0 win in the championship.

“It’s just another one on the list of stuff that I cannot believe is happening,” Scott said of being picked as MVP. “I never in a million years would have believed I was at an All-Star Game, the fans would be behind me like that and score two goals in a game. You can’t put it into words. You can’t write this stuff.

“It’s unbelievable.”

Now Scott’s helmet is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and his name was trending on Twitter in the United States after a night when he wasn’t listed among the three MVP candidates for a social media vote late in the final game.

The NHL did not release details, but fans took it upon themselves to select him once again, in an overwhelming vote for the 6-foot-8 forward with five goals in 285 career games.

“I’m sure he won over a lot of people, and got even more fans,” Chicago forward Patrick Kane said of Scott.

Fans at Bridgestone Arena booed the MVP options when announced and yelled for Scott, a former Anaheim Duck now on Montreal’s AHL team who wrote last week that someone with the NHL tried to talk him out of coming.

He seemed a bit stunned as he soaked everything in, from teammates lifting him on their shoulders while fans chanted “MVP!” before Scott was announced as the winner and presented with a Honda Pilot Touring SUV. He also posed with teammates behind their $1 million check.

Scott only got nervous when Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, a former teammate and friend, caught him off guard and helped hoist the reluctant fighter into the air.

“I’m not a very light guy, almost 275 pounds, soaking wet about 300 pounds,” Scott said. “Yeah, nerve wracking, especially [since] Burnzie is such a spaz. ”

The NHL changed the format after last year’s All-Star Game featured 92 shots and a combined 29 goals for the biggest offensive display in the showcase’s 60-year history. This time, these All-Stars combined for 116 shots and 23 goals.

Anaheim forward Corey Perry scored the lone goal in the championship at 13:38.

Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang blocked a shot, and Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban sprawled out on the ice to help protect a one-goal lead in the final seconds of the Atlantic Division’s 4-3 win over the Metropolitan.

Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop stopped a couple shots by Letang and his Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin inside the final minute to preserve the win.

Goalies also got into the offensive action, taking advantage of more room on the ice. Corey Schneider of New Jersey, Nashville’s own Pekka Rinne, Bishop and Anaheim’s John Gibson all had assists.

Florida forward Jaromir Jagr, captain of the Atlantic Division, skated in his 10th All-Star Game and helped the Atlantic beat the Metropolitan 4-3. Scott’s Pacific beat the powerful Central 9-6 to advance.