Claude Giroux helps Patrick Sharp win All-Star MVP, but Danny Briere wins bragging rights

by Travis Hughes on Jan 30, 2011 8:34 PM EST in Philadelphia Flyers Game Recaps - 10-11

RALEIGH -- Saturday's SuperSkills competition may have been a bit boring from a Flyers perspective, but tonight's All-Star Game was anything but that. Danny Briere had two goals to boost Team Lidstrom to an 11-10 victory over Claude Giroux's Team Staal.

It wasn't all bad for Giroux, though. He had a goal of his own and an assist on Patrick Sharp's lone goal, which helped the former Flyer and current Chicago Blackhawk win a new car and the MVP award.

"I think I just wanted to go out there and play well," Sharp said. "I was lucky to be playing with Claude Giroux making passes out there..."

It's hard not to feel good for Sharp, who's really come into his own in the last few years. Admittedly, though, I think we can all feel a little jealous and a little irritated that he's not still here, able to build that chemistry with Giroux on a nightly basis.

Giroux's presence here at the All-Star Game is something that could really help him down the line this season and beyond. He talked when he was selected to the team about how he didn't really expect to make the team because there are so many great players, but his play tonight really did prove that he's one of the best players in the world.

Danny Briere talked about that boost in confidence for Giroux, a guy who you wouldn't think needs much of a confidence boost.

"Hopefully he uses that to his advantage," said Briere. "He's one of the best players in the NHL. We all saw him there. He was confident, he made some plays, just like any of the top players. I hope it makes him realize that he belongs with the best players in the NHL."

Meanwhile, Briere was in the MVP discussion for a while there. He had several chances to bury a hat trick goal but couldn't pull the trigger, unfortunately. He definitely would have won if he potted three goals, and it would've been his second MVP award.

More from Raleigh after the jump, including video of Briere's post-game chat.

- Peter Laviolette's never lost an All-Star Game. 3-0, he said.

- The ovation for Lavi before the game was incredible.

- The Guardian Project is absolutely horrible and that's the last time I'll ever think about it.

- Nicklas Lidstrom finished an All-Star Game with a plus-seven rating. Seriously.

Briere's chat:

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Danny’s awesome. End of story.

Anxiously awaiting G's hat trick.

by f2yers8 on Jan 30, 2011 8:40 PM EST reply actions

Great interview by Danny

by JLS89 on Jan 30, 2011 8:45 PM EST reply actions

For those that missed The Guardian Project, here’s the video

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 8:46 PM EST reply actions

Take it down, please

Samesis

by JpH89 on Jan 30, 2011 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

Wow… I’m speechless right now. I don’t know what to think about that other than “amazing animation”

by JLS89 on Jan 30, 2011 11:20 PM EST up reply actions

Having seen that, I am almost glad that I spent the 2nd intermission walking to a nearby restaurant, only to encounter a friendly stray dog with a tag on that followed me around until I got to the restaurant.

Is Paul Holmgren really bad at managing the salary cap? Does Matt Stairs enjoy getting his ass hammered by guys?
Writer at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.

by Justin F. on Jan 30, 2011 11:41 PM EST up reply actions

Hat

I’ve been trying to find that hat for months, do anyone know where I can get it?

by jdgregg20 on Jan 30, 2011 8:49 PM EST reply actions

I think saw it at the Fan Gear last week.

by ShannonB on Jan 31, 2011 9:15 PM EST up reply actions

Don't quite understand how

a player on the losing team who only scored one goal in an 11-10 game wins the MVP.

by TommykUD on Jan 30, 2011 8:53 PM EST reply actions

Thanks NHL for making the fan vote a part of it

G, the second coming of Foppa.

by JerseyDriver on Jan 30, 2011 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

People could start voting early, too, so some people probably made their decision early on. Who knows how lopsided the fan voting was, anyway

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:02 PM EST up reply actions

Fans from chi and the announcers sucking his **** for a while there. Plant a seed, it grows.

by phinally on Jan 30, 2011 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

I think he also had 3 assists, so 4 points total isn’t bad.

by VorAbaddon on Jan 30, 2011 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

They took one away after the 1st, so he finished with 3 points. Loui Eriksson had the 4 point night

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:41 PM EST up reply actions

I should note that I might not have realized that either if I hadn’t seen Seravalli point it out on Twitter

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:42 PM EST up reply actions

But he’s also Loui Eriksson, you can understand why he wouldn’t be recognized for that.

by Snevik on Jan 31, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

Lidstrom is incredible.

by ww2b on Jan 30, 2011 9:02 PM EST reply actions

- The Guardian Project is absolutely horrible and that’s the last time I’ll ever think about it.

Does that mean you won’t let me write a review of the Comic? Haha.

I didn’t even get to see it. Anyone have a link?

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Jan 30, 2011 9:04 PM EST reply actions

Todd put it above, but seriously, click on it with fair warning that you won’t be able to erase how bad it is from your mind. Click at your own risk!

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:06 PM EST up reply actions

Saved it to my desktop. Going to read it later.

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Jan 30, 2011 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

Have you read any of the individual ones?

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

Did you read any others? Were they as bad as the Flyer one?

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:08 PM EST up reply actions

I read the Devil, the Bruin, the Shark and the Coyote.

The Devil was ok, the rest were about on the same level as the Flyer.

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

I’m afraid to read the Devil, I’m scared of how many things they got wrong about NJ, but I guess I’ll risk it based on your word

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:12 PM EST up reply actions

To clarify; it’s still terrible, but better than the others.

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:14 PM EST up reply actions

It is, but it is less terrible than the Flyer. The grammar correction? Please, the part of the state the Devil is from is just as likely to end a sentence in a preposition, so I’m sure he’d talk like the rest of us do. But then, it happens in Philly, too. But in my opinion they just dropped all of the Jersey Devil characteristics, and went with generic devil stereotypes. There’s no Jersey Devil identity there.

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:20 PM EST up reply actions

I just preferred the actual artwork in that one more than the others I’ve read. The Shark is awful, and the matched the Bruin up against a Megamind type villain, when he should have just fought some other giant animal.

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Ok, the Blue Jacket is my new least favourite.

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:27 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll give it the artwork. But in the Flyer one, they tried (but failed) to incorporate something about Philly into the storyline, but they just threw the rich mythos of the Jersey Devil right out the window. They had a lot of material they could have played with there.

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 30, 2011 9:29 PM EST up reply actions

I think the thing that makes the story better than the rest I’ve read is that he fights hired goons, rather than ridiculous Ben Franklins or other lame supervillains.

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:32 PM EST up reply actions

the maple leaf one is pretty bad

by Rhayes on Jan 30, 2011 9:45 PM EST up reply actions

Where did you get them? I only saw your link. I’m interested in all of them.

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Jan 30, 2011 9:18 PM EST up reply actions

There is a Guardian Project website, the indvidual comics are here

Mourning Gagne forever.

by ToddtheFox on Jan 30, 2011 9:22 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks.

by j reed on Jan 30, 2011 9:43 PM EST up reply actions

So is this a one time deal or do you think Marvel’s giviing it a limited run to flesh out the stories and characters?

by j reed on Jan 30, 2011 9:46 PM EST up reply actions

Doubt it’d be through Marvel. Stan doesn’t have much to do with their publishing anymore.

Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.

by KreiderDesigns on Jan 30, 2011 9:54 PM EST up reply actions

Some nice panels in the Flyers comic. On pg. 161, top row, left and then the middle row. On pg. 162 the fight sequence of the upper row (drawing could be stronger on the detail but the action and fight moves are well gestured.) Strong middle row.

by j reed on Jan 30, 2011 11:00 PM EST up reply actions

Haha was that Sarah Baicker trying to get into the post game circle around Danny and just walking away.

Samesis

by JpH89 on Jan 30, 2011 9:04 PM EST reply actions

It looked like she walked away to ask Lavy why he didn’t take a time out when Team Lidstrom was down 3-0.

by BobRossky on Jan 30, 2011 10:35 PM EST up reply actions

Haha I do think shes a great reporter, t just looked like it was a very awkward moment.

Samesis

by JpH89 on Jan 30, 2011 11:46 PM EST up reply actions

You can really tell Danny’s having fun this year and I hope it continues. He has been putting up an allstar effort since the playoffs last year. He deserves something more than an MVP this year.

by phinally on Jan 30, 2011 9:06 PM EST reply actions

What I want to know is...

How does a guy score one single goal and win the MVP award?

FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson

by FLYERROB on Jan 30, 2011 10:31 PM EST reply actions

Better Question

What does a million dollar athlete want with a Honda?

by BobRossky on Jan 30, 2011 10:39 PM EST up reply actions

Safe car for their children to drive? I’m grasping at straws there…

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
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by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 30, 2011 10:51 PM EST up reply actions

Danny joke in 3…2…1

Samesis

by JpH89 on Jan 30, 2011 11:46 PM EST up reply actions

Recently-married Patrick Sharp doesn’t appreciate this “kids” talk.

by Snevik on Jan 31, 2011 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, let’s not rush things here…

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!

by hintzy64 on Jan 31, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

I’d be all but a Maserati to Mike “the Vespa” Green.

by j reed on Jan 30, 2011 11:03 PM EST up reply actions

It’d be all but

by j reed on Jan 31, 2011 5:37 AM EST up reply actions

Hockey players don’t strike me as the “throw all of our money into ridiculous cars” bunch. Pretty sure Dupuis was driving a Honda in 24/7. And he had to buy that one.

by Snevik on Jan 31, 2011 11:59 AM EST up reply actions

I’d bet there are a couple of them, but probably a very small percentage.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!

by hintzy64 on Jan 31, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

So uh, what did I miss?

Man-crushin' on Boucher since 1999
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
SB Nation Philly - Associate Editor

by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 30, 2011 10:51 PM EST reply actions

A Peter Laviolette team coming back from 4 goals down in the 1st to tie, 2 goals down in the 2nd to tie, and ultimately win the game in the 3rd period.

Both Flyers had big games, though Briere stood out more than Giroux, but Briere had 2 minutes more of ice time than Giroux. For a good while Briere’s line consisting of Henrik Sedin and some guy I forget were the only line on Team Lidstrom able to establish solid, consistent, offensive pressure. Briere ended up with 2 goals and 0 assists and Grioux ended up with 1 goal and 1 assist.

by Justin F. on Jan 30, 2011 11:08 PM EST up reply actions

and to think that they almost didnt pick Briere to play in the ASG ? huh ?

as far as a Honda for an NHL Hockey Player? I guess its good for uhhhhhhhhh. I dunno?

Oh I know ! For those long road trips from Philadelphia back to Gatineau, QC, Canada when you may accidentally slide under an 18 Wheeler.

Better to total the Honda than the Ferrari Right !!

FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson

by FLYERROB on Jan 30, 2011 11:31 PM EST reply actions

Not to play the role of Mr. Sensitive here, but I am not sure that is something that should be joked about

by Justin F. on Jan 30, 2011 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Im ok with with it since Danny and his boy were unscratched.

Samesis

by JpH89 on Jan 30, 2011 11:48 PM EST up reply actions

sooooo sensitive ! jeeesh !

It was meant as a joke since no one was harmed and also since they have gobs of money to afford Expensive Luxury cars so why would they want a FREE economical car.

You missed the point entirely.

You never had an accident and your friends all joked and called you “Crash” ?

FLYERROB ! YOU STAY AWESOME FLYERS FANS ! www.naawayland.com Robert Wilson

by FLYERROB on Jan 31, 2011 8:02 AM EST up reply actions

Not after an accident like that. Rumor has it that someone at ice level heard what Frans Neilsen said to Briere on the ice that led to Briere trying to crosscheck him in the head (and the resulting suspension), and that Neilsen’s words had something to do with that accident. Briere obviously was not amused.

It’s a miracle that all three people involved weren’t hurt. People call you ‘crash’ after little accidents, not the really bad ones.

And for the record, Phil Kessel already said he’s planning to drive the car he won on Friday night. Cole Hamels gave his car in 2008 to his wife as a birthday present. Danny gave his car to his sister in 2007. What does it matter what they do with it? Either they’ll use it, they’ll give to someone else as a gift to make them happy, or they’ll donate it to charity. No harm in any of those scenarios.

by DragonGirl0583 on Jan 31, 2011 9:10 AM EST up reply actions