25th National Hockey League All-Star Game

25th NHL All-Star Game

1 2 3 Total East 0 2 1 3 West 1 1 0 2
Date	January 25, 1972
Arena	Met Center
City	Bloomington, MN
MVP	Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins)
Attendance	15,423
← 1971 1973 →

The 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in the Met Center in Bloomington, MN, home of the Minnesota North Stars, on January 25, 1972. It was the first and only time the All-Star Game was held at the Met Center. The East Division All-Stars defeated the West Division All-Stars 3–2. Bobby Orr was named the game's most valuable player.

League business

Clarence Campbell, president of the NHL announced that the NHL was expanding to Atlanta and Long Island. Campbell also indicated that the NHL would expand by two further teams for the 1974–75 season. The executives of the Central Hockey League and the Western Hockey League met to discuss the merger of their two leagues. The merger discussions were disrupted when Daniel Myers, owner of the Salt Lake Golden Eagles, committed suicide.

The game

It was the first time since 1956 that Gordie Howe did not play in the All-Star Game.

Summary

#	Score	Team	Goalscorer (Assist(s))	Time
First period
		East	Goaltender in: Dryden	0:00
		West	Goaltender in: T. Esposito	0:00
	0–0	East	Penalty: Hadfield	6:22
1	1-0	West	Goal: B. Hull (P. Martin, Maki)	17:01
Second period
2	2-0	West	Goal: Nolet (D. Hull)	1:11
3	2-1	East	Goal: Ratelle (Tremblay, Gilbert)	3:48
	2–1	West	Penalty: White	5:26
	2–1	East	Goaltender out: Dryden Goaltender in: Villemure	10:24
	2–1	West	Goaltender out: T. Esposito Goaltender in: Worsley	10:24
4	2 -2	East	Goal: McKenzie (Park, Seiling)	18:45
Third period
	2–2	West	Penalty: White	2:28
	2–2	East	Penalty: Esposito	5:34
	2–2	East	Penalty: Tremblay	8:42
	2–2	West	Penalty: Mohns	19:05
5	2-3	East	Goal: Esposito (Smith, Orr) (PPG)	19:16
Goaltenders
East: Dryden (30:24 minutes), Villemure (29:36 minutes). West: T. Esposito (30:24 minutes), Worsley (29:36 minutes).
Shots on goal
East (30) 09 - 08 - 13 West (27) 10 - 11 - 06
Officials
Referee : Bruce Hood Linesmen : Claude Béchard, Matt Pavelich

Source: Podnieks

Team Lineups

East Division All-Stars Coach: Al MacNeil (Montreal Canadiens) # Nat. Player Pos. Team Goaltenders 1 Ken Dryden Montreal Canadiens 30 Gilles Villemure New York Rangers Defencemen 2 Brad Park New York Rangers 3 J. C. Tremblay Montreal Canadiens 4 Bobby Orr Boston Bruins 9 Dale Tallon Vancouver Canucks 16 Rod Seiling New York Rangers 20 Dallas Smith Boston Bruins Forwards 5 Red Berenson C Detroit Red Wings 6 Rick Martin LW Buffalo Sabres 7 Phil Esposito C Boston Bruins 8 Rod Gilbert RW New York Rangers 10 Gilbert Perreault C Buffalo Sabres 11 Vic Hadfield LW New York Rangers 12 Yvan Cournoyer RW Montreal Canadiens 17 Paul Henderson LW Toronto Maple Leafs 18 John McKenzie RW Boston Bruins 19 Jean Ratelle C New York Rangers 27 Frank Mahovlich LW Montreal Canadiens

West Division All-Stars Coach: Billy Reay (Chicago Black Hawks) # Nat. Player Pos. Team Goaltenders 1 Gump Worsley Minnesota North Stars 35 Tony Esposito Chicago Black Hawks Defencemen 2 Bill White Chicago Black Hawks 3 Keith Magnuson Chicago Black Hawks 4 Ted Harris Minnesota North Stars 5 Carol Vadnais California Golden Seals 6 Doug Mohns Minnesota North Stars 12 Pat Stapleton Chicago Black Hawks Forwards 7 Garry Unger RW St. Louis Blues 8 Bill Goldsworthy RW Minnesota North Stars 9 Bobby Hull LW Chicago Black Hawks 10 Dennis Hull LW Chicago Black Hawks 11 Ross Lonsberry LW Los Angeles Kings 14 Pit Martin C Chicago Black Hawks 15 Bobby Clarke C Philadelphia Flyers 16 Chico Maki RW Chicago Black Hawks 17 Simon Nolet RW Philadelphia Flyers 21 Stan Mikita C Chicago Black Hawks 22 Greg Polis LW Pittsburgh Penguins

G = Goaltenders; D = Defencemen; C = Center; LW/RW = Left Wing/Right Wing Source: Podnieks

See also

• 1971–72 NHL season