First Star, Worst Star: January 31st, 2016

All Star weekend is winding to a close, the NHL resumes play on Tuesday, teams are gearing up for one final push toward the playoffs (every Canadian team excluded) and spring is right around the corner. So you know what that means; another instalment of First Star, Worst Star! 

I mean, was there any doubt of who this was going to be? Not only did John Scott score TWO GOALS, he threw the first bodycheck in an All Star game since the advent of television, he dropped the mitts with the league’s favourite alleged criminal and he could not have had a bigger smile on his face while doing it. 

You want a garbage goal followed by a hilarious celebration (that I maintain was also a metaphorical middle finger to the league)? JOHN SCOTT’LL GET YOU THAT!

You want two-thirds of a Gordie Howe Hat Trick in an All Star game? JOHN SCOTT’LL GET YOU THAT!

You want to see a universally disliked former player turned broadcaster get roasted on live TV? JOHN SCOTT’LL GET YOU THAT TOO! 

It’s already been said ad nauseam, but this was the most fun All Star game I can remember. I don’t know if it will leave an indelible mark in the same way Owen Nolan calling his shot and going bar down on Hasek for a hat trick did when I was a kid, but I definitely won’t forget this All Star game for a long time. Kudos to John Scott for embracing everything the way he did, not backing down when the league (allegedly) tried to bully him into bowing out, and turning this into what will probably be one of the most talked about All Star games in NHL history. Now let’s all get back to going out of our way to tell everyone how little interest we have in the All Star game for the next decade, just as god intended. 

You know what, I’m still so jacked up from all the All Star John Scott fun that there is no worst star this week. Instead let’s just watch Scott’s breakaway goal again, SHALL WE? Not a bad snipe for a guy who has only scored 22 goals since 2001! 

Also shout out to Taylor Hall, who looked every bit the part of an All Star during that game. He even did well despite being saddled with two Calgary Flames for line mates! Talk about overcoming adversity!