Stamkos voted captain as Lightning host All-Star weekend

NEW YORK » When the Tampa Bay Lightning host NHL All-Star Weekend, they’ll have face of the franchise Steven Stamkos front and center.

Stamkos was voted by fans as captain of the Atlantic Division team for the All-Star 3-on-3 tournament that’ll take place later this month at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The league unveiled All-Star captains Wednesday night and is expected to announce the full rosters in mid-January.

Stamkos has 49 points for first-place Tampa Bay and is signed for the next seven seasons. Stamkos was the No. 1 pick of the Lightning in 2008 and chose to stay with them rather than test free agency in the summer of 2016.

Washington winger Alex Ovechkin earned his ninth career All-Star nod as the fan-voted captain of the Metropolitan Division. Ovechkin leads the league with 26 goals and is on pace for his eighth 50-goal season.

Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban was voted captain for the Metropolitan Division and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid captain of the Pacific Division.

Hockey royalty pays tribute to Johnny Bower

TORONTO » Fans and a Who’s Who of hockey remembered Johnny Bower as a great goaltender and a better man.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Hall of Famers Yvan Cournoyer, Red Kelly, Frank Mahovlich, Darryl Sittler and Doug Gilmour were just some of the hockey elite on hand Wednesday for what was billed as a celebration of the legendary goalie who died Dec. 26 at the age of 93 after a bout of pneumonia.

Four generations of Bowers, including Nancy, Johnny’s wife of 69 years, were front and center. Fans heard stories about a family man who loved to laugh — especially at himself — and a humble guy who knew the value of a buck, doted on animals and always worked tirelessly for others.

Bower became synonymous with the Maple Leafs after a winding 13-year journey to becoming an NHL regular. Bower was 34 before he was Toronto’s starting goalie.

In 12 years, he built a Hall of Fame career that include two Vezina Trophies and four Stanley Cups before he retired at the age of 45 after just one game in the 1969-70 season.

“His road to the Maple Leafs and the four Cups was much bumpier, much harder and much longer than many of us,” teammate Dave Keon said. “And yet, he became the centerpiece of our team. Winning the Cup takes heart, but John was our soul.”

Golden Knights sign Marchessault to $30 million, 6-year deal

LAS VEGAS » The Vegas Golden Knights signed scoring leader Jonathan Marchessault to a $30 million, six-year contract extension, the clearest sign yet that the firstyear, first-place organization is going for it.

Marchessault will count $5 million against the salary cap through 2023-24, a significant raise from the $750,000 he was making this season.

Since being taken from the Panthers in the expansion draft, Marchessault has 15 goals and 22 assists in 37 games for Vegas, which leads the Western Conference at 27-9-2.

Preds’ Forsberg out 4 to 6 weeks

NASHVILLE, TENN. » Nashville forward and leading scorer Filip Forsberg will miss four to six weeks with an upper-body injury.

Forsberg was hurt Friday at Minnesota and had missed Nashville’s two games since.

Forsberg has 15 goals and 34 points in 37 games this season. He leads the Predators in goals. His 19 assists rank second on the team.