NHL All-Star Game Plays The Over...

The HQ doesn't quite think that the total in the game in Raleigh was 21, but an 11-10 game was what the NHL All-Star Game usually is...

Very little checking ((none)), very little penalty time ((none)), very few offsides calls ((two)), and a lot of scoring...

Ten different players scored the first ten goals and not even an 11-9 lead was safe for Team Lidstrom going into the final minute...

Here's your highlights...
((HT: NHL/Versus))


The HQ admits that is was cool to see Ron Francis and Rod Brind'Amour show up on ice, and Ovie was Showman Ovie...

We'll just have to get over the production elements...

Wings React To Crosby Snub

((HT: MyFoxDetroit))

Henrik Zetterberg says it was disrespectful for Penguins captain Sidney Crosby not to shake hands with all of Detroit's players after Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup.

"I think that's one thing you should do," the Red Wings' Zetterberg said as the players cleaned out their lockers at Joe Louis Arena on Monday. "I don't know why he didn't do it, it's disrespectful."

The biggest snub after Friday night's game was to Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom ((pictured, thanks WJBK-TV)), who waited while Crosby celebrated winning the Cup with his teammates. But he finally left the ice with a few other Detroit players.

"Sidney was probably caught up in the emotions and everything," Lidstrom said, adding that Crosby would learn from the situation.

Here's the reaction from the now-cleaned-out locker of Nik Lidstrom, thanks to our friends at WJBK and MyFoxDetroit...

Red Wings Take Game 1

((HT: LA Times/Helene Elliott))

Nicklas Lidstrom scored with 49.1 seconds left in the third period, pursuing his own rebound and rifling it past a helpless Jonas Hiller, to lift the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 victory over the Ducks this evening at Joe Louis Arena in the opener of their second-round playoff series.

In a game that was every bit as rugged as promised -- and as big a showcase for world-class skills as could be hoped for -- the Red Wings won on the persistence of Lidstrom.

The incomparable defenseman took a pass from Dan Cleary for a shot that was stopped by Hiller, but with bodies and traffic in front, Lidstrom cleverly saw an opening to come in from the blue line to pounce on the loose puck and snap it past Hiller.

Game 2 will be played Sunday at 11 a.m. Pacific time, also at Joe Louis Arena.

Mark Lee has the call for the game-winner, thanks CBC/NHL...