AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 25
Sunday, January 25, 2009
22 Is Not Enough
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After sixty minutes, twenty-two goals and ninety-six shots on goal…things still were not settled in Montreal Sunday night in the 57th NHL All Star Game. But that’s when it really got fun to watch as the five-minute overtime period actually had the resemblance of an actual hockey game.
There was actually a minor penalty called…Komisarek’s hooking penalty…and an open-ice check in front of the West’s goal. OK, maybe it was more coincidental contact between opposing players…but it was two players colliding with one winding up on the ice…I call it a check, by God!
Bruins keeper Tim Thomas had the best performance of the six goalies as he stopped 19 of the 22 shots he faced…included a wonderful save to rob Jarome Iginla in the OT session.
Atlanta’s representative in Montreal, Ilya Kovalchuk, finished with no points and a -2 with 2 SOG. I was kinda hoping to see Kovy play at least one shift with Marc Savard at center with Dany Heatley on the right…you know, just for old time’s sake.
After five minutes of extra play, the two teams had combined for 102 shots in the 65 total minutes played and things remained knotted at 11. Then the East won in a shootout as Alex Kovalev and Alex Ovechkin scored while Thomas stopped both Rich Nash and Shane Doan…who had won the shootout elimination contest just the night before.
Hometown hero Alex Kovalev was selected as the games MVP. He finished with a pair of goals, a shootout goal, an assist, was a +1 and led all East All Star skaters with 7 SOG.
The 22 goals scored were the 2nd most for an NHL All Star Game. In 2001, the North American squad out-gunned the World team 14-12 in Denver. There were 98 shots on goal taken in that one.
105.4 mph = $24,000
Not only did Boston’s Zdeno Chara win The Hardest Shot competition Saturday night with a record-breaking 105.4 mph slapper, but his efforts netted $24,000 for the charity of his choice as well. All those competing in this portion of the skills competition were asked to choke up one grand each. Their teams as well as the league and NHLPA matched it with the understanding that the pot would go to the winner’s charity of choice.
Datsyuk And Lidstrom Get Their ASG Break Extended
Two Detroit Red Wings will get their All Star Game break extended by a few days. Under NHL rules…since Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Lidstrom were named to the All Star team but chose to sit out to nurse injuries, they will be force to miss one game.
Sid Crosby, who was also an All Star that didn’t play because of injury, will not be made to sit out a game since he participated in off-ice activities. I believe he was instructing young players and fans in a class titled, ”Crotch Punches Made Simple”.
The NHLPA Declines To Reopen CBA
The NHL Players’ Association executive board decided to turn down a chance to re-open the collective bargaining agreement between the league and it’s players. This ensures that there will be no work stoppage through the 2010-11 season. The board had until May to make this decision, but chose to do so last Friday.
Happy, happy, joy, joy!
