Some All-Star athletes not looking forward to trip home

In one of the lowest scoring NHL All-Star games in history, the Western Conference beat the Eastern Conference 6-5 Sunday in Florida. The game was full of the usual All-Star fun, but Dany Heatly also showed the hockey world some magic, scoring four goals in the game. With an assist on top of that, he only needed one more point to match the All-Star record hit by Mario Lemieux in 1988.

But the fun and frivolity of the All-Star game is over, and some players are looking forward to going back to the real season more than others. Heatly should enjoy his moment while it lasts, because the Atlanta Thrashers are ten games under .500 right now. On the upside for the Thrashers, the team is improving under new coach Bob Hartley, going 6-3-1 in the last ten games.

The Carolina Hurricanes are ahead of Atlanta, but probably not for long. Forward Jeff O'Neil will have to go back to a Hurricanes team that has been in a free fall the last two months, and have just one win in the last ten tries. This does not bode well for playoff chances. The most amazing thing about Carolina right now is that coach Paul Maurice, one of the youngest and longest serving coaches in the league, has not had his position questioned. Yet.

Other players that may like to stay in Florida would definitely include New York Rangers defenseman Tom Poti, since for the first time in league history a team is actually considering firing its entire roster to help solve its problems. The Rangers have under-performed, taken some of the dumbest penalties on the ice, and all-around played hockey like the fat kid plays dodgeball.

But never fear, Ranger fans! General Manager/Coach Glenn Sather is here! That is right, General Manager Sather has taken over the bench after firing coach Brian Trottier last week. Sather had vowed to never coach again since he took over the reins with the Edmonton Oilers in 1993. Just so everyone is clear on the team's history, the Oilers did not make the playoffs that year.

There are several players, however, who will enjoy the flight home. First on the list would be Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco and forwards Bill Guerin and Mike Modano. These three have led Dallas to the top of the league, and an 8-1-1 record in the team's last ten games. Dallas is not carrying the conference like Detroit did last year, but the Stars are being looked at as the team to beat in the playoffs. Turco has no playoff experience, though, so it may not be as smooth of sailing as Dallas fans hope.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks forward Paul Kariya is also looking forward to leaving the warm sunshine of Florida to return to the warm sunshine of California. The Ducks are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten, are looking at their first playoff berth in years, and the team just traded for Florida All-Star defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh. Ducks general manager Bryan Murray is trying to increase his team's playoff abilities, and make sure that the Ducks are strong enough to fight for a playoff spot right up to the end of the season.

Well, the Montreal Canadiens did it this time. The team traded away a solid starting goaltender to its division rivals, the Boston Bruins, and wouldn't you know it? The Canadien's longtime division rivals start winning again. Who would of thought? Fair enough, goalie Jeff Hackett has only played three games for the Boston Bruins. But at 2-1 with a 1.34 goals against average, it is a heck of a lot better than what the Bruins have been doing in other games lately.

There should be a good game next week when Hackett returns to Montreal with the Bruins on Feb. 11. Do not be surprised to see these two teams duke it out for a playoff spot come March, and do not be surprised if you see Montreal GM Andre Savard looking a little nervous about his job security if Montreal loses that fight.