COLUMBUS, Ohio – The NHL is keeping its promise and bringing its All-Star Game to nationwide Arena in 2015.
Commissioner Gary Bettman made the surprise announcement via the center-ice video scoreboard during Saturday’s game with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Blue Jackets will host the best and brightest stars Jan. 24-25t.
The arena was slated to host the 2013 events, but the lockout derailed the schedule.
There is no mid-season exhibition contest this season due to the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Columbus also hosted the All-Star Game in 2007.
The Jackets lost booth games of a home-and-home series with the Penguins.
Deryk Engelland, Chris Kunitz and Jussi Jokinen scored and backup Jeff Zatkoff had 19 saves in his first NHL win to shut out Columbus 3-0 at Nationwide Arena Saturday night. That was the Penguins’ fourth victory in a row.
Evgeni Malkin assisted on two of the three third-period goals as Pittsburgh downed the Jackets 4-2 at CONSOL Energy Center on Friday. Ryan Johansen and Derek MacKenzie both scored for Columbus (5-8-0, 10 pts.).
Sergei Bobrovsky allowed all three goals on 13 shots prior to making way for Curtis McElhinney, who stopped 13 of 14 shots in defeat.
Columbus hosts the Ottawa Senators Tuesday (7:00 p.m./FoxSports Ohio HD).