The 2012 NHL All-Star Game gets underway on Sunday afternoon at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, with a pair of local stars on display. Right wing Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks is making his third All-Star appearance, while Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick will make his All-Star debut.
Perry was a fan favorite on Saturday night, scoring a goal in the Breakaway Challenge with a miniature stick. Perry finished second in fan voting in the event, capturing 29% of the vote compared to 47% for Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, who scored a "Superman" goal while wearing a cape. "[Kane] wouldn’t tell me what he was going to do but he had some tricks up his sleeve," Perry told the Associated Press. Perry was also an All-Star in 2008 and 2011.
Perry is on Team Chara, selected by team captain Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins. The other squad was selected by Samuel Alfredsson of the host Ottawa Senators. Quick is on Team Alfredsson.
Quick, 26, is making his All-Star appearance, and enjoying the finest season of his five-year career for the Kings. Quick leads the NHL with six shutouts, and ranks fourth in the league in both save percentage (.934) and goals against average (1.93). Quick is the fourth Kings' goalie to be named an NHL All-Star, joining Terry Sawchuk (1968), Rogie Vachon (1973, 1975, 1978) and Mario Lessard (1981).
For more news and information on NHL All-Stars Corey Perry and Jonathan Quick, be sure to read Anaheim Calling and Jewels From The Crown, respectively.