All-Star Game highest-scoring mid-season classic in league’s history

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NHL’s first All-Star Game in three seasons became the highest-scoring mid-season classic in the league’s history.

New York Islanders center John Tavares became only the sixth NHL player to score four goals in an All-Star Game, leading Team Toews to a 17-12 win over Team Foligno before a sold-out crowd of 18,901 in Nationwide Arena.

“It’s pretty cool,” Tavares said. “It’s something you don’t really think about going into a game like this. You get your opportunities, but I was just happy to put them in.

“It’s pretty special, and certainly one (game) I won’t forget.”

Philadelphia right winger Jakub Voracek (three goals, three assists), Boston center Patrice Bergeron (one goal, four assists) and Chicago center Jonathan Toews (one goals, four assists) each had five points for Team Toews.

Voracek joins Mario Lemeiux — three goals, three assists in 1988 — as the only players to put up six points in a single All-Star Game.

However, Blue Jackets center Ryan Johansen, who had two goals and two assists, was named the game’s most valuable player through on-line voting.

“It was like a road-hockey game with my buddies,” Johansen said. “But it was a lot of fun.

“To have this opportunity all weekend in front of our fans … it’s something I’ll remember for a very long time.”

The previous record for most goals in a game was 26, set at the 2001 All-Star Game in Denver’s Pepsi Center, when stars from North America beat stars from the rest of the World, 14-12.

The teams combined for 92 shots on goal, zero hits and zero penalties.

“It’s not the style I’m used to playing,” Foligno said. “But, boy, when the game slows down you really get to see what some of these guys can do, the skill that these guys have and the way they work the puck.”

The teams were shaped via “fantasy” draft on Friday, with Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews selecting one team and Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Nick Foligno drafting the other.

Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and Chicago’s Patrick Kane each had two goals and an assist for Team Foligno.

The game was tied 4-4 after one period before Team Toews pulled away with seven goals in the second period.

All told, the six goaltenders stopped just 19 of 92 shots, a .734 save percentage.

“I feel for the goalies, I do,” Los Angeles center Anze Kopitar said.

Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury stopped only 9 of 16 shots in the second period for Team Foligno. The seven goals allowed in one period is an All-Star Game record.

Fleury heard it from the Nationwide Arena crowd behind him for the entire 20 minutes, too.

It was Fleury, after all, who helped Pittsburgh oust the Blue Jackets in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season.

“It was so long, probably the longest 20 minutes of my career,” Fleury said. “We are at this game to have fun, but at one time, it was frustrating.

“Normally, I’ll be quick out of the game (pulled by his coach) way before giving up seven goals.”

The other player targeted by the home crowd was New York Rangers left winger Rick Nash, who spent the first nine years of his career in Columbus before requesting a trade in 2012.

Nash was booed every time he touched the puck. When he scored a second-period goal on Fleury, the crowd wasn’t sure what to do.