Pacific Division forward John Scott looks into the stands during the NHL hockey All-Star championship game against the Atlantic Division Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division won 1-0 and Scott was named most valuable player. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - John Scott sat on his teammates shoulders while fans chanted "M-V-P! M-V-P!" and the NHL finally got out of the way.
The people spoke up for Scott once again Sunday night, making the career journeyman enforcer an All-Star MVP as a write-in candidate after voting him into the new 3-on-3 All-Star tournament as captain of the Pacific Division.
Scott scored twice during the tournament, bringing cheers from fans and smiles from teammates who relished every moment along with the gentle giant and his goofy grin. Scott captained the Pacific to a 1-0 win in the championship.
"It's just another one on the list of stuff that I cannot believe is happening," Scott said of being picked as MVP. "I never in a million years would have believed I was at an All-Star Game, the fans would be behind me like that and score two goals in a game. You can't put it into words. You can't write this stuff. It's unbelievable."
Now Scott's helmet is headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and his name was trending on Twitter in the United States after a night when he wasn't listed among the three MVP candidates for a social media vote late in the final game.
The NHL did not release details, but fans took it upon themselves to select him once again, in an overwhelming vote for the 6-foot-8 forward with five goals in 285 career games.
"I'm sure he won over a lot of people, and got even more fans," Chicago forward Patrick Kane said of Scott.
Fans at Bridgestone Arena booed the MVP options when announced and yelled for Scott, who wrote last week that someone with the NHL tried to talk him out of coming. He seemed a bit stunned as he soaked everything in, from teammates lifting him on their shoulders while fans chanted "MVP!" before Scott was announced as the winner and presented with a Honda Pilot Touring SUV. He also posed with teammates behind their $1 million check.
Scott only got nervous when Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, a former teammate and friend, caught him off guard and helped hoist the reluctant fighter into the air.
"I'm not a very light guy, almost 275 pounds, soaking wet about 300 pounds," Scott said. "Yeah, nerve wracking, especially (since) Burnzie is such a spaz. Again, just another moment on this weekend I just cannot believe. You really can't put into words."
The NHL changed the format after last year's All-Star Game featured 92 shots and a combined 29 goals for the biggest offensive display in the showcase's 60-year history. This time, these All-Stars combined for 116 shots and 23 goals.
This event looked much more like the hockey the league plays the rest of the season. Their inspiration was the 3-on-3 overtime approach for a tournament pitting the four divisions against each other in 20-minute games. The winners of the first two games advanced to a third-period championship.
"I broke a better sweat than last year for sure," Philadelphia Flyer and Metropolitan Division forward Claude Giroux said.
Goalies split the work with a 10-minute portion each and actually got the chance to stop shots rather than be targets in the net. Florida's Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick of the Kings each made great saves to keep the first 10 minutes of the championship game scoreless, and Quick stopped Jagr in the final seconds before intermission.
Scott, the personable enforcer toiling for now in the minor leagues, stole the show.
A fan campaign made Scott captain of the Pacific Division before the Arizona Coyotes traded him Jan. 15 to Montreal, which assigned him to the AHL. He will return to the AHL to Newfoundland in Canada with lots of prizes after fans chose Scott over the finalists offered by the league's hockey operations - Luongo, Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau or Edmonton forward Taylor Hall.
Scott's two goals tied Hall, Daniel Sedin of Vancouver and Nashville forward James Neal for the most goals at this event. Scott's wife, Danielle, is pregnant with twins due within the next two weeks, and they will be heading to Michigan during the American Hockey League's All-Star break.
She said this has been overwhelming.
"I jumped up when he scored his second goal, holding my two kids, and I'm like, 'Oh my God. I better stop and relax,'" she said. "We'd like to have the babies at home."
Anaheim forward Corey Perry scored the lone goal in the championship at 13:38.
Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang blocked a shot, and Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban sprawled out on the ice to help protect a one-goal lead in the final seconds of the Atlantic Division's 4-3 win over the Metropolitan. Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop stopped a couple shots by Letang and his Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin inside the final minute to preserve the win.
Goalies also got into the offensive action, taking advantage of more room on the ice. Corey Schneider of New Jersey, Nashville's own Pekka Rinne, Bishop and Anaheim's John Gibson all had assists.
Florida forward Jaromir Jagr, captain of the Atlantic Division, skated in his 10th All-Star Game and helped the Atlantic beat the Metropolitan 4-3. Scott's Pacific beat the powerful Central 9-6 to advance.
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AP Hockey Writer Larry Lage and AP freelancer writer Jim Diamond contributed to this report.
Pacific Division forward John Scott, center, is named most valuable player after the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division beat the Atlantic Division won 1-0. Scott was elected as captain of the Pacific Division while with the Arizona Coyotes. He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he is now with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Newfoundland. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott kisses his wife after being named most valuable player in the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division beat the Atlantic Division 1-0. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott (28) is lifted up by teammates Mark Giordano (5), of the Calgary Flames, Joe Pavelski (8), and Brent Burns (88), of the San Jose Sharks after they defeated the Atlantic Division team 1-0 at an NHL hockey All-Star championship game, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division won 1-0. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott (28) celebrates with his teammates after they defeated the Atlantic Division team 1-0 at an NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division won 1-0. Scott was named most valuable player. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott, center, is named most valuable player after the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division beat the Atlantic Division won 1-0. Scott was elected as captain of the Pacific Division while with the Arizona Coyotes. He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he is now with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Newfoundland. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott, right, is cheered by teammates as he is named most valuable player after the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division beat the Atlantic Division won 1-0. Scott was elected as captain of the Pacific Division while with the Arizona Coyotes. He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he is now with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Newfoundland. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Associated Press
Atlantic Division forward Dylan Larkin (71), of the Detroit Red Wings, falls to the ice while attempting shoot the puck past Pacific Division goalie John Gibson (36), of the Anaheim Ducks, and forward Taylor Hall (4), of the Edmonton Oilers, during the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division won 1-0. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Atlantic Division goalie Roberto Luongo (1), of the Florida Panthers, stops a shot by Pacific Division forward Daniel Sedin (22), of the Vancouver Canucks, from crossing the goal line with his legs during the NHL hockey All-Star championship game, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division defenseman Drew Doughty, left, of the Los Angeles Kings, celebrates with forward Corey Perry (10), of the Anaheim Ducks, after scoring a goal against the Central Division team during an NHL hockey All-Star semifinal round game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division team won 9-6. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division goalie John Gibson (36), of the Anaheim Ducks, stops a shot against the Central Division team as defenseman Brent Burns (88), of the San Jose Sharks, waits for the rebound during an NHL hockey All-Star semifinal round game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division team won 9-6. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott (28) pretends to fight with Central Division forward Patrick Kane (88), of the Chicago Blackhawks, during an NHL hockey All-Star semifinal round game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division team won 9-6. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
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Pacific Division forward John Scott (28) takes the puck down the ice after checking Central Division forward Patrick Kane (88), of the Chicago Blackhawks, during an NHL hockey All-Star semifinal round game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott carries his children onto the ice after being named most valuable player in the NHL hockey All-Star championship game Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division beat the Atlantic Division 1-0. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
The Associated Press
Pacific Division forward John Scott carries his children onto the ice after being named the most valuable player in the NHL hockey All-Star games Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Pacific Division beat the Atlantic Division 1-0. Scott was elected as captain of the Pacific Division while with the Arizona Coyotes. He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens and he is now with the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in Newfoundland. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The Associated Press