NHL All Star Game

G'day folks,

As the NHL All Star week kicks off tonight I thought it would be a good time to send out another blog. Tonight's festivites include the YoungStars Game. This game will boast the NHL's very impressive rookie class. This game is played as a 4-on-4 format and the All Star skills competition will follow...that is usually quite entertaining as well.

This year's rookie class includes some of the best players in the game...some surprising and some not so surprising. Names like Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Phil Kessel, and Jussi Jokinen were almost expected to be chosen but pleasant surprises like Kari Lehtonen, Andrej Meszaros, Patrick Eaves, Peter Budaj, Ryan Getzlaf, and Lee Stempniak should make this game a pretty good show!!! Call me biased but I'm going with the East on this one...between Malkin, Kessel, and Eaves I think the goals will come fast and furious!!!!

The Skills Competition is quite entertaining...you see alot of the comradery between the players even if they're from the opposing teams. Here's a run-down on the some of the skills:

Puck Control Relay The last winner of this event was Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets. It's impossible to say who will win it because you don't know who signs up for what event but I'd guess if Alexander Ovechkin enters this one then he gets it hands-down!!!

Fastest Skater Scott Niedermayer won this last and I wouldn't put it past him to get it again however there are some younger legs out there though and my guess is Martin Havlat might blow the doors off everyone this year!!!

Hardest Shot Al MacInnis used to own this one!!! Last time there was a tie...Sheldon Souray and Adrian Aucoin at 102.2 mph...that's fast!!!! Hate to be a goalie in this league!!! That being said, I saw Zdeno Chara crank out a slapshot at the Sens Skills competition that was at least 102 mph...I'm going with Chara to do it again at the skills competition!!!

Accuracy Shooting My man Ray Bourque used to be the man to beat at this one...believe it or not Jeremy Roenick has owned it the last 2 years!!! Well, he's not there this time so the torch will be passed...judging by the dryer in his parent's house I think Sydney Crosby will get this one!!!

Goaltender's Competition The winning goalie will be decided by the best record in both the In the Zone and Shootout competitions...Roberto Luongo won it last time...the popular choice will be Martin Brodeur but I'm going to buck the trend on this one and go with Ryan Miller...hey, call me crazy!!!!

As for the actual All Star Game it's a no-brainer...the fire-power and the goaltending is so lopsided this year...it will be the East by at least 5 goals!!!!

Enjoy the fun folks!!!!
We'll see how close I get!!!!

Check out NHL.com to get the line-up and more info on the festivities!!!!

CHEERS!!!!
Rokpig!!!!