NHL All-Star Game 2016: The John Scott show in Nashville

First, let’s get the business out of the way: the 3-on-3 format absolutely works. The novelty has clearly not worn off of the NHL’s newest overtime layout, this time repurposed for the All-Star Game. Some tweaks may be needed in the future — because really, offsides in an All-Star Game? — but it’s clear that this game mattered more now with the intensity of the 3-on-3 evident in almost every shift played.

The real heart of this weekend, however, is John Scott. What originally was a grassroots effort to troll the NHL for allowing fans to vote in players went from a mere annoyance to the league to a full-blown PR nightmare. The Scott saga has had every twist, turn, up and down in the book, yet somehow it became the NHL’s most uplifting story of the year. Scott was welcomed with open arms all weekend long, from fan signings to his big media scrum and his standing ovations on both nights of events.

It was John Scott’s world and we were all just living in it.

The entire experience would have been an incredible one if it stopped there. It didn’t. As the leading vote getter, Scott served as the captain of the Pacific Division All-Star team. His team went on to win the tournament and take home the $1 million grand prize.

The All-Star Game experience has been a dream for John Scott and the only way this could’ve ended was by winning the MVP as voted by the fans.

Truly amazing!

As if we could not love John Scott more.

The captain of the Pacific Division more than delivered on a big time goal that helped tie the game against the Central early in the first 10 minute half. And rightfully, Nashville gave Scott the standing ovation he certainly deserved.

The look of absolute joy on Scott’s face says all you need to know about what this goal means.

There’s a Penguin connection here too, as Malkin’s teammate in Pittsburgh Kris Letang was the player who sprung the forward for the beautiful finish.

The 17,000-plus crowd in Bridgestone Arena let Scott hear their love as he was introduced as the Pacific Division captain before the start of the 3-on-3 tournament Sunday.

Scott will have to wait a little bit longer for the Pacific to take on the Central in the second game of the tournament, but if this is how the crowd reacts to him now, what will it be like if he scores?

The NHL is set to debut a new All-Star Game format Sunday evening, though that’s not what much of the focus will probably be on. Sure, the 3-on-3 format made famous by overtime this year is the centerpiece, but so far, the stories are on who’s attending, and who’s not.

Sure, this might just all be a gimmick, but a packed house in Nashville is about to sit down to watch this new format unfold, so let’s cut it some slack. Enjoy yourselves out there!

After a very public back-and-forth on whether John Scott would be allowed to play in the NHL All-Star game, he is there and appears to be enjoying every single second. That includes moments that could otherwise be a little uncomfortable. Like during introductions when the fans mercilessly booed Patrick Kane. Scott was standing right next to him and couldn’t help but laugh.

The boos quickly turned to cheers when Scott was announced as fans gave Scott a very loud ovation.

I think it’s safe to say they’ll be fine with it. Scott brought his kids to the All-Star Skills Competition, and cameras caught him having fun with his daughter before the event.

And it was ADORABLE.