As is usually the case in Montreal, the event started off with a good yet sober pre-game ceremony to go along the obligatory player introductions. Most of the players were cheered, even Bruins players, with the hardest boos heard when the name “Maple Leafs” was heard for Thomas Kaberle. The crowd also made sure Vincent Lecavalier understood how they would love to see him in Red-White-and-Blue. Obviously Montreal’s players also received warm and loud receptions, Kovalev getting the biggest one.

After an uneventful Fast Skater competition, the much waited Breakaway Challenge gave the fans some reasons to cheer. Martin St. Louis showed a lot of skills and imagination going as far as trying his best David Copperfield impression, hiding the puck in his glove acting like he had it on his stick before dropping it and scoring. Ryan Getzlaf also wowed the crowd with some good moves. Alex Kovalev followed with an amazing showing of soccer skills translated on ice. While they may not have been as spectacular as other moves, he received a lot of respect in the votes for his skills, finishing second. But as you probably know, it’s NHL Rockstar Alex Ovechkin who stole the show with a great sense of showmanship when he went back to fellow Russian Malkin who gave him a hat with a Canadian flag, humongous sunglasses, Gatorade and his stick to help Ovechkin win the competition. Patrick Kane said it best when he mentioned “Nobody will remember the moves we did but everybody will remember this”

In the Young Star Game Carey Price looked rusty and seemed to miss Markov and Komisarek. While Montreal’s sophomore goalie didn’t look at his best, Boston’s rookie forward Blake Wheeler’s was named MVP of the game with a hat trick. Milan Lucic couldn’t be there to play for the sophomores and it’s a shame. I would have loved to see the kind of camaraderie that could happen from two teammates playing against each other in a competition like this.

The Hardest Shot Competition was presented right and after a battle between Malkin and Heatley in the “Raymond Bourque” accuracy competition. This is when Zdeno Chara broke the record for hardest slapshot with a 105.4 mph performance. This was the first time he heard cheers from the Montreal crowd. Mike Komisarek tried his best but fell way short of Chara with a very decent 98.5 mph. Funnily enough, Mark Streit who many identify as the reason the powerplay isn’t working this year, finished last with a 96 mph shot. Maybe Komisarek should get some pp time after all.

And finally in the elimination shootout Alex Kovalev scored against Tim Thomas in round one before seeing the Bruins netminder return the favour in the second round. Tim Thomas was actually quite solid in this event with some spectacular saves. Another Bruins could have stolen the event but Marc Savard ended up falling short in the finals to Shane Doan.

Now we just have to wait another week to see the next chapter in the rivalry…