OTTAWA – Marian Gaborik made New York Rangers teammate Henrik Lundqvist pay for not selecting him to play for Daniel Alfredsson’s team in the NHL All-Star game.
Winger Gaborik beat goaltender Lundqvist twice in the first period, finished with three goals and an assist, and earned MVP honors in leading Team Chara to a 12-9 win over Team Alfredsson on Sunday.
Tim Thomas, who made 18 saves in the final period, extended his record by winning a fourth All-Star game.
His Boston Bruins teammate, Zdeno Chara, scored the eventual winning goal in the third period.
Goals by Marian Hossa, Chara and Corey Perry in a span of 1:22 broke the game open by giving their team an 11-8 lead with 6:34 to play.
Despite the loss, Alfredsson rewarded his hometown fans by leading his team with two goals and an assist. The Senators captain also hinted afterward that he is considering returning for another season.
In an interview broadcast on the arena’s scoreboard, Alfredsson was asked about his future.
With a smile on his face and fans cheering his name, Alfredsson said: “Fifty percent yes, and my wife’s going to have to decide the other 50.”
Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin had a goal and two assists for Team Alfredsson.
Gaborik became the 16th player to score at least three goals — one short of matching the record — in the All-Star game, and first since Rick Nash had three in 2008.
The outcome was decided in the final period, when Team Chara outscored Team Alfredsson, 6-3.
Hossa broke an 8-8 tie by scoring on a partial breakaway after being set up by Pavel Datsyuk with 7:56 remaining.
Chara gave his club a 10-8 lead when Gaborik fed him a perfect pass into the middle for a snap shot past Brian Elliott of the St. Louis Blues.
Daniel Sedin – Henrik’s twin brother and Canucks teammate – John Tavares, Jason Pominville and Milan Michalek had a goal and assist each for Team Alfredsson.
Team Chara got off to a fast start, building a 3-0 lead on Gaborik’s second goal 9:51 in. The club was so dominant that it was leading 2-0 before Alfredsson’s team got off its first shot.
Gaborik certainly enjoyed getting the better of Lundqvist. After scoring his first goal on a give-and-go with Datsyuk, Gaborik circled the net dropped to one knee and pointed his stick at Lundqvist while pumping his fist.
Lundqvist jokingly lamented being beaten three times in eight shots, including twice by his Rangers teammate.
“There’s been a lot of trash talk, but it feels like it’s game over already,” said Lundqvist, who was wearing a microphone during the opening period.
Lundqvist was Alfredsson’s assistant captain, and had a hand in the team’s drafting strategy on Thursday.
Team Alfredsson rallied to tie before the first period was over. But it didn’t get its first — and only — lead until Alfredsson scored twice during a 1:31 span to put his team up 6-5 with just under four minutes to play in the second period.
His first goal came on a great individual effort in which Alfredsson, dragging the puck behind him, split defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Ryan Suter, and flipped a shot that beat goalie Carey Price inside the right post.
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