COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Columbus center Ryan Johansen took advantage of a little home cooking to claim the MVP award in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.
Not that Johansen didn't have a good game. Just about every offensive player did in Team Jonathan Toews' 17-12 win against Team Nick Foligno Sunday.
Johansen, the top pick in the All-Star draft Friday night, finished with two goals and two assists, an exceptional scoreline on most nights. But Sunday, in the defense-free All-Star Game, he was dwarfed by a few performances on the winning side.
Flyers forward Jakub Voracek had three goals and three assists for a game-high six points. Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and Toews, the team captain and Blackhawks center, had five points a piece. Islanders center John Tavares topped all scorers with four goals.
Johansen, though, had the advantage of playing in front of his home crowd. He and Blue Jackets teammate Foligno consistently got the biggest cheers of the night, while any opponents -- particularly former Blue Jackets center Rick Nash -- got the harsher side of the crowd.
Columbus passes test
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had nothing but praise for Columbus as a host city for the weekend's festivities. This was the city's first crack at hosting an All-Star Game, but Nationwide Arena did hold the draft eight years ago.
"Columbus was a great host for the draft in 2007 and is showing once again that it is terrific at hosting high-visibility events," Bettman said.
Nationwide Arena opened in 2000 and just played host to its first All-Star Game 15 years later. Consol Energy Center, opened in 2010, has yet to host the event. Next year's is slated for Nashville, with no plans beyond that.
Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said he would love to see the event come to Pittsburgh.
"It's awesome," Fleury said. "I think the city was buzzing. So many hockey fans come to town, it's just a fun weekend."
Defense optional
The 29 goals scored Sunday made it the highest-scoring All-Star Game in NHL history. It topped the 2001 All-Star Game, in which the North American All-Stars beat the World All-Stars, 14-12, in Denver.
"There was not too much defense," Capitals center Alex Ovechkin said. "I feel sorry for the goalies."
Each of the six goalies who played in the game allowed at least four goals, with Fleury having the worst game, allowing seven to get past him.
Friendly scuffle
The most "serious" moment of the game came early in the third period when players from both teams gathered for a scrum in front of Team Toews' net. It would be a regular occurrence in most games, but a rarity in an All-Star Game. Of course, even during some light pushing and shoving, players could be seen smiling and looking up at the video board with a grin.
Sam Werner: swerner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @SWernerPG
First Published: January 26, 2015, 5:00 a.m.