Joffrey Lupul of the Toronto Maple Leafs scores a goal in the third period against Brian Elliott #1 of the St. Louis Blues during the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game at Scotiabank Place on Sunday in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (AFP

Reuters/Ottawa
More trade show than sporting showcase, the National Hockey League (NHL) All Star game in the current form is designed to be a fun-filled promotional vehicle for the league and the biggest names.
But there was a serious shortage of star power on the Scotiabank Place ice on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms and a significant neck injury and the NHL’s only other marketing kingpin, Washington Capitals sniper Alexander Ovechkin, discarded his All Star invitation after being hit with a three-game suspension.
The result was a free-wheeling contest that featured little defense, no penalties, no hitting but plenty of scoring as Team Chara out gunned Team Alfredsson 12-9.
New York Rangers winger Marian Gaborik fuelled the win with a hat trick in a four-point performance that earned him Most Valuable Player honours as the NHL brought the showcase back to its wintry roots after last year’s All-Star tailgating party in sunny Raleigh.
“For us to have this weekend at home was special,” said the Senators’ Jason Spezza, one of four Ottawa players to take part. “The city, the way they have embraced it, everyone has gotten such a warm welcome. “The fans are genuinely thrilled to have everyone around.”
For the second consecutive year, the All Star format honoured a childhood hockey tradition played out on rinks around the world.