Elliott gets call for All-Star Game

Blues goalie replaces injured Bobrovsky, joins teammates Shattenkirk, Tarasenko

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- An injury to Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky opened a door for Blues goalie Brian Elliott.

Elliott, who missed roughly five weeks with a knee sprain, was headed for a vacation with many of his Blues teammates before his plans were re-routed.

Elliott is headed to Columbus instead, and will participate in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues goalie Brian Elliott will be making his second All-Star appearance

after being named a replacement on Thursday. 

The NHL made the announcement Thursday afternoon that Elliott will replace Bobrovsky, who sustained a lower-body injury during a 4-0 loss at Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Elliott, who will join teammates Kevin Shattenkirk and Vladimir Tarasenko this weekend, will be making his second career All-Star appearance (2012) and joins Jacques Plante (1969, 1970) and Glenn Hall (1968, 1969, 1970) as the only goalies in franchise history to earn multiple All-Star selections as a Blue.

After Monday's 3-1 victory against the Colorado Avalanche, Elliott went into the All-Star break with the top goals-against average in the NHL (1.86) and is fourth in save percentage (.930). He is 13-5-2 with three shutouts in 22 games this season.

He talked about getting away and enjoying the time off. 

So much for that thought after Elliott seemed to be shaking the injury time off and getting back into a groove.

"We'll get a good break and fuel up for the stretch," Elliott said. "... Just take the positives from it, get refreshed, try to comeback even better.

"We've got a workout plan (during the break). You try to enjoy it as much as possible, try to get away from the game as much as possible but also be prepared to comeback and work hard. Maybe I'll juggle some stuff while on vacation."

All-Star festivities will begin with the skills competition on Saturday at 6 p.m., and culminate with the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Nationwide Arena

In four seasons, Elliott's .684 win percentage (68-29-9) and 19 shutouts rank second overall in franchise history, and while his 1.86 goals against average and .927 save percentage are both League bests in that stretch.