East Wins Goal-Oriented Game

Goals, goals, and more goals. Three by Mark Recchi. Three by Owen Nolan, including two in an 8-second span. Two apiece by Mario Lemieux, Dale Hawerchuk, Pavel Bure and John LeClair.

Led by Recchi and Lemieux, the Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 11-7 Saturday night in yet another record-setting NHL All-Star Game.

League scoring is down a half-goal a game and there have already been four scoreless ties in 1996-97. But all decade long, regular-season trends have had no bearing when the NHL’s stars get together for a night of hitless, defense-optional, run-and-gun hockey.

There have been 117 goals in seven All-Star games in the 1990s - almost 17 a game. Going into the decade, there had never been more than 14 goals in any All-Star contest.

Saturday’s total was the third-most ever, surpassing the 17 of 1994 and the 16 each of 1991 and 1992 but falling short of the 22 in 1993 and 19 in 1990.

In addition to Nolan’s record for fastest two goals, the teams set a record for most goals in one period, with 10 in the second. The 11 goals by the East was the third-most by one team.

Recchi, a Montreal wing, was selected MVP.

Lemieux, probably playing in the game for the last time, added an assist and tied Wayne Gretzky for most points in All-Star history (20). He also passed Gordie Howe to move into second place in goals (11). It was the first All-Star appearance since 1992 for the Pittsburgh center.

East 11, West 7

East 4 6 1 - 11 West 2 4 1 - 7

First period-1, East, LeClair (Bondra, S.Stevens), 8:52. 2, East, Lemieux (Gretzky), 9:49. 3, East, Recchi (Messier, Alfredsson), 15:32. 4, East, Hawerchuk, (Lindros, Coffey), 16:19. 5, West, Bure (Sundin, Amonte), 17:36. 6, West, Sundin (Bure, Ozolinsh), 18:36.

Second period-7, East, Recchi (Svehla, Messier), 1:56. 8, East, Sanderson (Lindros), 3:21. 9, West, Bure (Selanne, Fetisov), 4:40. 10, East, Lemieux (Svehla, Ciccarelli), 6:09. 11, East, Messier (K.Hatcher, Alfredsson), 8:45. 12, East, Recchi (Oates, Lemieux), 10:57. 13, West, Shanahan (Hull, Ozolinsh), 16:38 (pp). 14, East, Hawerchuk (LeClair, Stevens), 17:28. 15, West, Nolan (Fleury, Ozolinsh), 18:54. 16, West, Nolan (Amonte), 19:02.

Third period-17, East, LeClair (Bondra, Oates), 8:50. 18, West, Nolan, 17:57.

Shots on goal-East 15-15-11-41. West 12-13-21-46.Powerplay opp.-East 0 of 0; West 1 of 2.Goalies-East, Vanbiesbrouck (12 shots-10 saves), Brodeur (0:00 second, 13-9), Hasek (0:00 third, 21-20). West, Roy (15-11), Moog (0:00 second, 15-9), Hebert (0:00 third, 11-10).A-17,442.