25th National Hockey League All-Star Game

25th NHL All-Star Game
Date	January 25, 1972
Arena	Metropolitan Sports Center
City	Bloomington
MVP	Bobby Orr (Boston)
Attendance	15,423
← 1971	1973 →

The 25th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, 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 Metropolitan Sports 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.^[1]

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^[2]

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