That's it! It's over ... sort of.
Now that the first period has ended, I'm using the intermission to digest the opening stanza — the level of play, the first six goals (3-3 tie), the feeling out of one game only line-mates — and all the hoopla surrounding the 55th (sometimes annual) National Hockey League All-Star Game, coming to you from the Lonestar State, broadcasted by your friends at Comcast subsidiary, VS (Versus) Television.
The lockout two years ago and the 2006 Olympics Games in Torino forced the NHL to put its yearly display of raw talent on hiatus for a few seasons. So it's been a while since us countable NHL fans have had the opportunity to reaffirm why we follow this game so devoutly amid a generally scoffing sports-spectating public.
As a result of exhaustion from recent travel and a momentary lack of creativity, I've decided to steal directly from Bill Simmons' play book (a mighty fine one) and keep a running diary of the 2007 All-Star Game, in pseudo-real time.
So here we go. Sit back and try to convince yourself that reading about two (of three periods) is better than actually watching the entire game on your own.
Game on.
20:00 Second period face-off. 59:59 remaining.
19:23 Alexander Ovechkin's (OV) and Sidney Crosby's first passing exchange ... of period two. Finally (for the first time since the first), the two most electric players are on a line together — starters and line-mates all game. This is what hockey is about: two otherwise combative nemeses competing together for 60 minutes.
18:33 The San Jose Sharks' Patrick Marleau sends a laser past Marty Brodeur, but not past the post. Good goalie, better luck.
17:56 The Ottawa Senators' Dany Heatley (aka: Heater) blasts another shot off the post. Interestingly, Heater and Atlanta Thrasher Marion Hossa are on a line together; in 2005, the two were traded for each other between their current/former respective clubs.
17:33 Marleau gets interfered with, no penalty called. Will we have the first penalty in an All-Star Game since Sandis Ozolinsh's hooking penalty more than five years ago?
17:19 Marleau makes up for his missed goal with a trickler of a rebound past Brodeur. 4-3, West.
16:39 Is that a roughing penalty? Basement dweller Simon Gagne of the Philadelphia Flyers is getting the I-haven't-yet-realized-that-I'm-being-that-guy-in-an-all-star game treatment in the corner from the Calgary Flames' Deon Phaneuf — one of numerous second-year NHLers making a debut in Wednesday's game.
The New Jersey Devils' Brian Rafalski and Zdeno Chara from the Beantown Bruins are defensive partners. This is visually humorous considering Rafalski is one of the smallest defensemen (5'10") in the league and Chara is the tallest.
The level of play has been teetering upon the mediocre, thus far; players are not where their teammates thought they'd be — turnovers from blind passes abound.
14:41 Justin Williams scores his first career all-star goal from Carolina Hurricanes teammate Eric Staal and shifty New York Islander Jason Blake. Tied at 4.
14:13 Brendan Shanahan gets a tug from Nick Lidstrom to force a one-handed, breakaway attempt. The referees have ostensibly stuffed their whistles into their jocks.
The VS commercials with the Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash and Joe Sakic from the Colorado Avalanche — where they inform you that, indeed, you are watching the 55th Annual NHL All-Star Game, presented by Dodge — are too forced. Perhaps instructing them to not stare at the cue cards would help hide their on-screen deficiency.
VS put microphones on goalies Brodeur and hometown starter Marty Turco. These are two solid choices, guys who are vocal regularly and aren't afraid to lighten up the discourse.
13:31 Chara uses his 6'9" backhand to snipe a goal past Calgary net-minder Mikka Kiprusoff. Is Goliath really a defenseman? 5-4, East.
12:46 Gagne fires a forced pass with no clear lane. There are more successful rink-long breakout passes in regular season games than tonight. Each zone is constantly clogged — back checking and defense in an all-star game? Disturbing.
12:23 San Jose's Joe Thornton — 2005-2006 Art Ross (most points) and Hart Trophy (MVP) winner — is trying desperately to hook up his regular linemate, 2005-2006 Maurice Richard Trophy (most goals) winner Jonathan Cheechoo. (Who, from here out, must be referred to as the Cheechoo Train because it's such a hilarious nickname in that totally-lame-glad-it's-not-mine sort of way.)
11:30 Minnesota Wild winger Brian Rolston scores on a rocket that tears off Bordeur's mic. Wow. West evens the game at 5.
The puck won't sit; it keeps knuckling. Geography may be thawing the pucks too quickly, consequently pucks expand, don't lay flat and become bouncier (especially when they hit deep ruts in the late period ice).
9:20 Nash burns Brodeur, who is getting owned this period, with a smooth deke, using his patience to extend beyond Brodeur's reach. West on top, 6-5.
8:26 Chicago Blackhawk Martin Havlat just buried a one timer from Nash. Brodeur is continually getting his ass kicked. (That is an extremely difficult sentence to read as one of Brodeur's die-hard fans. Oh well, it's the regular season that counts!) 7-5, West.
7:44 Brodeur throws the Ferris wheel stop on Cheechoo. The Train has not left the station. Marty's first highlight reel save.
In case you didn't catch the news during the TV timeouts, the new KFC Buffalo Chicken Snacker is only a dollar. Mmm, smells like deep-fried gluttony.
7:13 St. Louis Blue Bill Guerin gets a point in his return to Big D as he hooks up Phoenix Coyote Yanic Perreault for his second goal of the tilt. West lead building, 8-5.
6:28 OV is making his presence felt. He has been all over the ice all night so far, he puts home a rebound for his first career all-star goal. East slowly chipping the lead away, 6-8.
I have now been told twice that Gordie Howe is in attendance at tonight's game.
2:53 Brodeur stones Perrault — no hat trick yet. Last time that many goals were scored was 2003; Dany Heatley scored four, dished an assist, and went home with the MVP award vehicle.
2:06 The Dallas crowd is waiting to erupt in exaltation for former Star Bill Guerin — that's what leaving on good terms gets you.
1:02 Rolston. Again. Past Brodeur. Again. Slap shot from the top of the left face-off circle. Again. Brodeur: worst all-star game performance. Apparently, the defense took the period off.
The West leads the East, 9-6, after two periods of play.
Interviews in the locker room reveal the players' personal equipment (gloves, helmets, etc.) they use during regular season games and all-star warm-ups hanging in their stalls. Some of the erratic passing and lack of puck handling precision can possibly be attributed to the new RBK Hockey uniforms (gloves, lids, jerseys, and shells) and their restrictiveness.
Hockey players are a superstitious, routine-adhering bunch that are often used to using their own well worn, foul-smelling equipment — loose jerseys, broken-in gloves, and helmets that have taken the shape of their bodies over time. Having very little warm-up time to get used to the all-star unis, the players may be inhibited in their comfort, movement, and stellar play. Regardless, like true virtuosos, these guys are still making numerous breathtaking plays in less than perfect conditions, like true all-stars.
The Commentators: Keith Jones, Brian Engblom, Mark Messier, and Bill Clement — knowledgeable, well-spoken former players who can discuss the intricacies of the game from an experienced perspective.
Mike "Doc" Emrick, the guy is priceless. He calls games with an unfettered style unparalleled by any other NHL announcer. He knows hockey, he knows the players, and he knows the league, all before the game starts and we know it by how accurate and clear he recites the play-by-play. Well done, Doc.
Kudos to the VS casting crew (save for the inclusion of Eddie O).
Now, onward, the third period has arrived.
20:00 Turco starts for the West. My fantasy starter, Frenchman Cristabol Huet, from the Montreal Canadians, is between the pipes for the East.
19:13 Turco makes a big stop on OV in between his color commentary with the boys upstairs.
17:59 Heater fires a hard shot past Turco. He's has looked solid all game — always in position, his vision unobstructed, picking pockets, and demonstrating his seasoned composure. Hey, Turco, practice that multi-tasking. East keeping it close, 7-9.
16:26 Guerin looking for assist number two, holding on to the puck as he skates behind the net looking for hat-trick hunter Rolston.
15:31 Two-on-one, Marleau floats some sauce to San Jose teammate Thornton's forehand, but Huet makes the cross the paint sliding stop on the redirection. Nice. Still 9-7.
12:48 The consummate veteran Joe Sakic sends a perfect pass to Nash who puts to second to bed and the West's lead to 10-7.
New York Islanders forward Jason Blake has been all over the rink the entire game. His low-key status doesn't garner much attention from casual hockey fans, but his presence at this year's game is absolutely necessary. He's had some botched plays because of the soft pucks and shoddy ice, but he has also made a few and his feet are moving as fast they were at the opening draw. If his line could finish with more regularity, Blake might be driving away as the MVP.
9:23 Chara is the man. This one-time skeptic has been converted. Tied league-leading goal scorer Marian Hossa draws the lone defensmen then floats a backhand across to the 81-inch Chara barreling toward Turco's net. Second goal of the game. Chara could possibly play an entire game as the Boston Bruins' only player on the ice. Impressed. Completely. East back within two, 10-8.
2:05 Nash is pushing for that hat-trick and the victory-sealing goal. The last seven minutes have been filled with pure goal-less excitement.
1:26 When will East coaches Lindy Ruff of Buffalo and Atlanta's Bob Hartley pull Huet? Wait, there he goes.
1:02 Havlat makes it all but official with his second tally of the game. Six seconds later, he shanks the crossbar. West ahead, 11-8.
0:34 The Montreal Candians' Sheldon Sourey careens a slap shot of a defender's stick and past Turco. East closing the gap, 9-11.
Empty net.
0:11 Uh, um ... Deon Phaneuf sends a sure icing dump-in from behind his own net the length of the ice and it curved on its side (lousy pucks and ice, anyone?) and in to the net. That's was unexpected.
Game over. West wins, 12-9.
Twenty-one total goals and more than 21 splendid plays easily erase the shoddy pre-game festivities like a Chuck Norris interview, lousy second intermission musical entertainment, and the coaches putting guys from the same team on a line instead of mixing it up.
It's good to have the All-Star Game back. It might not mean much to most people, but it allows fans to see the best players from each conference come together and play with each other, against each other.
Let's hope that we can elude more contractual shenanigans and put the NHL All-Star Game back on the annual calendar. The league deserves it, the players deserve it, the fans deserve it.
Author's notes: Ryan Smyth is a true ambassador of hockey. He's the kind of player — the kind of person — athletes in our sport should aspire to be. During the warm-ups, Smyth tossed three pucks into the stands to random kids who were ecstatic about the attention the Edmonton Oiler showed them. He's plays and carries himself with constant dignity and everyone who knows Smyth offers nothing but accolades. Total fan.
Daniel Briere was awarded the MVP with a goal and four assists for five points. He sure didn't win by being flashy. After his lone goal in early in the first period, he was practically unheard of for the remainder of the game. He clearly knows where to make himself heard: the scoresheet. Congratulations.
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