TAMPA, FLA.—As the NHL’s all-stars leave their teams and descend upon this Florida city keen to prove itself as a hockey town, it sounds as if Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is geared up for his second appearance. As a rookie last year in Los Angeles, it might have been easy for Matthews to have felt overwhelmed. So it’s a pretty special weekend all in all.”Article Continued BelowWhile Tampa’s all-star weekend will be less glitzy that Los Angeles, it will offer something unique: There will be pirates. The all-star weekend coincides with Tampa’s annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest — think Mardi Gras, but with parrots and eye patches. A lot of people walking around saying “Let’s Parrrrrrty.” The all-star event rarely ever remains the same year to year.

Source: thestar January 26, 2018 23:03 UTC