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EAST TOPS WEST IN ALL-STAR GAME, 27-21

Buffalo's Steenhuis wins MVP with seven goals, six assists

03/05/2009

The East All-Stars, behind the offensive power of the league's leading scorer, Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis, outlasted the West All-Stars 27-21 before 13,380 Saturday night at Pepsi Center.

Wasting no time, the East raced out to a 7-4 lead after one period thanks in large part to a first quarter hat-trick by New York forward Pat Maddalena. Gary Gait, returning to Pepsi Center as a player for the first time in four years, received a warm reception from the crowd and added a goal and an assist for the East in the first frame. Colorado forward Brian Langtry scored for the West All-Stars and Calgary's Jeff Shattler added a pair of goals to keep the home team close.

The second quarter saw the East pouring on the points, racing out to a 13-6 lead late in the period. Mark Steenhuis, displaying the offensive skills that make him one of the league's elite players, connected on two netters for the East to go with his three first half assists. San Jose's Colin Doyle drew rope on three occasions in the quarter (four total in the half) to bring the West back to within striking distance at 14-11 at the end of the first half.

Third quarter goals by Mammoth All-Stars, Brian Langtry, Nick Carlson and Gavin Prout were not enough for the West to keep pace with the streaking East offensive show. Averaging nearly seven goals per quarter, the firepower of Steenhuis and the East snipers took a 20-16 lead into the final period.

With the game MVP, Steenhuis, putting the final touches on his sock trick-plus effort in the fourth quarter, and behind his 13 total point output (7 goals, 6 assists) for the night, the East cruised home with a 27-21 final score.

Following the Steenhuis show, the East was led by Maddalena's five goals and one assist. Boston's Dan Dawson, tacked on a pair of goals and seven assists while taking most of the fourth quarter off following a strategic and fun-filled dive into a hot tub near the floor. The East scooped up a whopping 120 loose balls on the night while goalies Ken Montour and Anthony Cosmo combined for 47 saves.

The West was led in scoring by San Jose's Colin Doyle. The forward's four goals and three assists were followed by Mammoth captain Gavin Prout's two goals and four assists. Edmonton's Ian Hawksbee tallied a hat trick and two assists while Brian Langtry netted a pair of goals and three assists in the loss. Mammoth goalie Andrew Leyshon made 24 saves in goal for the West, while Matt Disher from Portland added 23. The West totaled 113 loose balls on the night.