Wednesday was a bad night to be a goalie in Dallas.
There was certainly no shortage of offense for either the West or the East in an NHL All-Star game that saw 21 goals reach the back of the net. When the dust finally cleared, the West had won the blood bath 12-9.
The plethora of offense did not diminish the intrigue of the game, however, as most of the fireworks came from unexpected places. Top vote-getter Sidney Crosby remained scoreless, while linemate and feared sniper Alexander Ovechkin was held to just one goal for the East. The line made some flashy plays and possessed the puck well but could not find the same finishing touch it had boasted all season long.
The West had no trouble finishing its plays. Four players scored two goals for the West, including surprises Brian Rolston and Yanic Perrault. Colorado's Joe Sakic tallied four assists, playing on a line with speedsters Rick Nash of Columbus and Martin Havlat of Chicago. It was Sakic's seventh multi-point All-Star game, giving him the record in that category.
The pace of the game was fast but by no means tough. There was not a single hit recorded by either team, nor were any penalties called. The style of play was indicative of the "New NHL," in which offensive skill and skating are paramount.
As the game progressed and the players grew accustomed to playing with one another, the pace quickened. By the third period, the spectators in Dallas and fans watching on Versus Network were privy to a back-and-forth battle that climaxed in the second period, when the squads tallied a combined nine goals, with four from the West in less than four minutes.
With five points, a goal, and four assists, Eastern conference forward Daniel Briere earned himself the MVP nod. Along with goalie Ryan Miller, and defenseman Brian Campbell, Briere represented the East-leading Buffalo Sabres in the starting lineup.
Another performance of note was that of Bruins' defenseman Zdeno Chara, who tallied two goals for the East, falling one short of the record for a defenseman in an All-Star game.
Having concluded the All-Star Game, players and fans alike will turn their attention to the playoff race.
As Inside the NHL predicted in November, Nashville has come on strong, currently sitting atop the West, just three points ahead of the injury-plagued Anaheim Ducks. Nashville will need to maintain its momentum if it wants to stay ahead of the Ducks and San Jose, who is also eyeing the top seed.
In the East, Buffalo has struggled of late, but remains in control of the top spot in the standings. Strong play from New Jersey, Atlanta, and Montreal has closed the gap and should make the race intriguing to follow down the stretch.
Perhaps the most interesting race in the East will be the fight for the last three playoff spots. With five teams within four points of the last seed, anything is possible at this point; however, Inside the NHL will still offer its playoff-race predictions.
In the West, Nashville will hold on to grab the one seed, followed by San Jose and Calgary as the other division winners. Finishing off the playoff order will be Anaheim, Detroit, Dallas, Minnesota, and Vancouver, respectively.
In the East, Buffalo will also hold on, mainly on the back of goalie Ryan Miller. Martin Brodeur will hold New Jersey at the second spot, while Atlanta will continue to dominate the Southeast Division to stay put in the number three slot. Montreal and Ottawa will battle for the fourth spot, but Ottawa will win and will play a great first round series. The last three spots, in order, will be taken by Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Pittsburgh.
But no matter what happens, it will be a thrilling ride all the way to the end.
