ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Brandon Pirri, Mike Hoffman and Joe Whitney combined for 8 points, carrying much of the offensive punch for the American Hockey League All-Stars in a 7-2 rout over visiting Farjestad BK in Wednesday night’s AHL All-Star game.
Hoffman said their line found instant chemistry due to the players having a similar playing style.
"We’re all offensive-minded players so when you throw us guys together we can usually (play well) together quickly," he said. "It’s nice to play in an all-star game."
Pirri scored twice and added an assist, while Hoffman added a goal and two assists, Ryan Strome scored two goals, and Ben Street and Travis Morin also scored for the All-Stars. Pirri won the game’s MVP honour.
Pirri, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect, credited the atmosphere of the game and his linemates for his MVP performance.
"It was a lot of fun tonight," Pirri said. "My linemates played a big part in it. It was a lot of fun and a great experience. It was about fun today and keeping up with good habits. We had a lot of speed there and it worked out well, we found chemistry early."
The All-Stars carried a 4-goal lead after the first period.
"You never know when you’re going to get into situations like that," Hoffman said. "We wanted to come out hard and we had a good, strong start."
Magnum Nygren and Rickard Wallin replied for Farjestad BK.
The AHL All-Stars opened the scoring at the 8:43 mark of the first period, as Joe Whitney made a backhand pass across the crease to Hoffman, who tapped the puck into a wide-open net.
Strome capitalized on a turnover in the slot and scored on a quick wristshot, catching Farjestad BK goalie Frederik Pettersson-Wentzel unprepared at the 10:08 mark of the first period. That made it 2-0 for the All-Stars.
The All-Stars added another when Jason Jaffray found Street wide-open with a pass from behind the net. Street one-timed a wrister high blocker at the 12:00 mark of the first period.
With 1:23 left in the first, Morin tipped home a Cody Goloubef slapshot from the point for the All-Stars to make it 4-0.
Both teams switched goalies at the 11:32 mark of the second period. The All-Stars put in Dustin Tokarski, while Farjestad BK put in Pekka Tuokkola.
Pirri added to the lead, scoring on a quick move on a breakaway before burying a shot blocker side 8:51 into the second period.
Twenty-five seconds into the period, Nygren fired a point shot through heavy traffic to get Farjestad BK on the board.
Pirri added another goal, finishing off a Hoffman backhand pass across the crease 3:20 into the third period.
Farjestad BK made it a 6-2 game when Wallin tipped a point shot into the net at the 8:45 mark of the third.
Strome drove to the net, made a toe-drag and scored with a quick wrist shot with 1:53 left in the game.
Jake Allen made 14 saves for the All-Stars, while Tokarski saved 20. Pettersson-Wentzel stopped 13, and Tuokkola saved 10.