Sports Blog of the Day

This year’s NHL All-Star game starting rosters reminds us why fans should not be choosing the players who play in these All-Star games. Last year there was an aggressive drive to get an unknown Buffalo Sabre in a starting spot, a move created to make a mockery out of the voting process. Although that drive failed, it was close and faltered in the final few days of the campaign.

The Western Conference team’s starting six consists of three Chicago Black Hawks and a few ‘lame Ducks’. While those two teams take the ice for the opening faceoff, the powerhouse Detroit Red Wings will be represented on the bench with two of the league’s premier players, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. Lidstrom is also a heavy favorite to wear the ‘C’ for the West.

Like the West, the starting line-up for the Eastern Conference is also made up of just two teams, the Montreal Canadians who are hosting the game and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

To see the entire rosters and alternates, go to NHL.com here.

 CHICAGO - The New Year will start off with a bang for the NHL and its fans who have been anxiously awaiting the Winter Classic game between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks which will be played outdoors at historic Wrigley Field.

Thursday’s matinee game will be the 701st time these two original six teams have met.

Last year’s outdoor contest between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres was played at Ralph Wilson Stadium before more than 72,000 fans and ended with a Pens win when Sidney Crosby buried a shot during a shootout.

Many of the players of past outdoor contests said the biggest challenge is staying warmed up while on the bench between shifts and skating into the wind.

The Red Wings currently occupy first place in the Central Division standings just four points ahead of second-place Chicago.

ATLANTA - Every year in the NHL there are a few Cinderella teams and this year the Eastern Conference leading Boston Bruins appear to be one of them.

The Thrashers who are coming off a tough 5-4 loss to Carolina Friday night will face a difficult challenge when the Bruins visit Philips Arena on Sunday.

The Bruins stormed out of the gate with a vengeance this season, winning 25 of 34 games while compiling some dominating numbers. The Bruins who play Carolina on Saturday night, lead the NHL in goals (126) and are on a hot streak (9-1) over the past ten games.

The signings of free agents center Marc Savard and defenseman Zdeno Chara in 2006 is beginning to pay dividends for the Bruins who have surrounded the two veterans with young players who are suddenly making a mark in the league.

Twenty-one-year-old American Philip Kessel is having his best season yet in the NHL and leads the Bruins in goals with twenty-one. Kessel from Madison, Wisconsin isn’t the only young Bruin having a break-out season. Twenty-two-year-old David Krejki (13-24-37), 20-year-old Milan Lucic (10-14-24) and 22-year-old rookie Blake Wheeler (11-9-20) are also greatly contributing to the NHL’s hottest offense.

Winning consistently in the NHL takes great goaltending and the tag team of Tim Thomas (2.04 GAA) and Manny Fernandez (2.09 GAA) have been a wall for the Bruins (25-5-4-54pts).

If the underdog Thrashers (12-19-4-28pts) can bounce back from the Carolina loss and get a win against Boston, it would be a huge confidence boaster before they pack up and go on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Hurricanes next week.

When you think NHL powerhouse the Detroit Red Wings come to mind. They won the Stanley Cup last season and are again a favorite to repeat this year.

With the season more than a quarter of the way through, the San Jose Sharks are trying to establish themselves as a contender and have turned a few heads with their NHL best 53 points.

The Sharks went into Joe Louis Arena in Detroit last night wanting to prove to the hockey world their hot start is no fluke.

Final result, Red Wings 6 San Jose zilch. The Red Wings’ 6-0 blowout victory was a solid statement to the rest of the division that to win the cup this year, you need to go through Detroit.

ATLANTA - The buzz in the A.T.L. about trading Russian hockey star, Ilya Kovalchuk is picking up steam as the team sits in the cellar in their division and struggle to improve.

There is a strong argument on both sides. Some favor the star being moved to obtain two or even three solid players in return. Those who argue say a player like Kovalchuk comes along once in a lifetime and the team should keep the star and build around him.

Kovalchuk scored 52 goals last season and is one of the league’s best. GM Don Waddell continues to deny they are trying to move the player and Kovalchuk has not asked to be traded.

Sean Avery is scheduled to meet with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss his indefinite suspension from the league.

Avery, known for his peskiness on the ice and his trail of controversy off it, was suspended after making a crude remark regarding two ex-girlfriends of his who are dating other hockey players.

The comment had something to do with these guys going where he had been and the comment in question contained the words “sloppy seconds” in it.

The NHL needs a few guys like Avery. The only time we see the league in the news is when a player is hit with assault charges for attacking someone on the ice or when Avery decides to make headlines again.

This league got beat out by Sponge Bob in the ratings during the playoffs so you have to wonder how hard Bettman really wants to come down on Avery.