Lets face it. All-star games are not usually very interesting. They exist solely to make money for the league, they are often unpopular among fans, and with the possible exception of the MLB, they rarely bare any resemblance to a competitive game. Over the years leagues have introduced a variety of gimmicks in an unsuccessful attempt to generate interest in their respective all-star games. In 2011 the NHL converted from the standard East vs West format to a “fantasy draft,” in which players were chosen by captains. The NFL followed suit a few years later. The MLS has tried pitting their all-stars against European clubs, the NBA currently holds a wide variety of events including a “celebrity game,” and the NHL once even went so far as to flirt with a glowing puck. All of these gimmicks only add to the poor reputation that all-star games have earned. While the MLB’s “Midsummer-Classic” is a perennial bright spot, the Pro-Bowl is downright awful, and everything else is mediocre at best.

This year, however, the NHL defied expectations. Sunday’s all-star game was surprisingly entertaining, a result of both prudent changes in format by the league, and a unlikely story-line created by the fans. The NHL made sweeping changes to the game this year. Instead of one game, it consisted of three, 20 minute long, three on three “mini games.” Each game consisted of two 10 minute halves. The two eastern divisions played each other, the two western divisions played each other, and, finally, the winners played in the last game of the night. The new three on three format made for exciting, competitive games that actually resembled something close to hockey. The Atlantic defeated the Metropolitan 4-3 in the first game thanks to a late second half goal from P.K. Subban. The second game featured more scoring, with the Pacific outlasting the Central 9-6. The “championship,” however, was a defensive battle, a first for an all-star game of any sport. Both teams were held scoreless in the first half thanks in part to terrific goal-tending from Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick. Correy Parry scored the only goal of the game on Ben Bishop three minutes into the second half to win the game for the Pacific.

While the new format enacted by the NHL certainly made for exciting hockey, the highlight of the all-star game came from the fans and the players, not the league. During the all-star voting, the then-Coyotes’ enforcer John Scott was voted captain of the Pacific team by fans around the league, despite having just five career goals to his name. The NHL clearly worried that this would further contribute to the all-star game’s reputation as a joke. Scott was traded to Montreal, who immediately reassigned him to their AHL affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps. The NHL even reportedly contacted Scott, asking him not to participate in the game. But once it became clear that this would not please the fans, the NHL announced that Scott would be allowed to Captain the Pacific team despite being sent to the AHL. Scott’s all-star appearance included two goals in the semi-final and a “fight” with Patrick Kane. Fans booed the MVP options that appeared on the scoreboard in Nashville when they did not include Scott. Not to be denied, he was won the award by popular vote as a write-in candidate.

Thanks in part to Scott, and in part to the changes made by the league, this year’s all-star game was actually worth watching. It provided competitive games and compelling story lines. By changing the format and allowing Scott to play, the NHL broke the streak of uninteresting, irrelevant all-star games to finally bring something meaningful to its fans.