The fans spoke.  After several months of deliberation, they voted for Crosby, Levacalier, Markov, Chara, and Martin Brodeur to lead the east.  Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, Phaneuf, and Luongo received the most votes for the Western Conference.  The NHL will officially release the starting line-ups Jan. 8.

There were some disappointments.  For example, after finishing last season with 96 points, NY Rangers’ right-winger Jaromir Jagr placed 14th among Eastern Conference forwards (11G 25A).  This year, the wear and tear has definitely caught up to Jagr in his 16th professional year of experience.  In the beginning of December, I suggested Jagr consider retirement.  Maybe, Brendan Shanahan should join him on the sidelines as well.

In the meanwhile, the youth has stepped up in this league.  Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Ilya Kovalchuck, who are still in their twenties, are among offensive league leaders and, consequently, top vote getters.  Moreover, Daniel Alfredsson, who received the third-most votes, is the only forward above 31 years of age who ranked in the top 10 in scoring.  He is 35 years of age and still one of the most dangerous skaters in the league.

Interestingly enough, the top five vote-getting defensemen were between the ages of 28 and 32.  Habs’ Andrei Markov and B’s Zdeno Chara were runaways with over 230,000 votes apiece.

Martin Brodeur, who actually trailed in the polls, led all Eastern Conference goaltenders with 185,003 votes.  Henrik Lundqvist and Cristobal Huet captured second and third place respectively, with 154,827 and 154,198 votes apiece, a difference of merely 629 votes.

Nov. 27 - Henrik Lundqvist, N.Y. Rangers, 30,324; Martin Brodeur, New Jersey, 29,631

Dec. 12 - Cristobal Huet Montreal 122,228; Martin Brodeur New Jersey 120,537

Dec. 8 - Martin Brodeur New Jersey 149,067; Cristobal Huet Montreal 137,418

Jan. 2 - Martin Brodeur, New Jersey 185,003; Henrik Lundqvist, NY Rangers 154,827

Let’s just say that Brodeur got off to a slow start with a 3-6-0 record in October.  Since the end of that month, Brodeur is 18-7-2 with four shutouts.  He is among league leaders in games played, minutes, wins, goals against average, saves, save percentage, and shutouts.  And who thought that he’s losing an edge.  Last night, Brodeur disproved all doubters with a 36-save performance en route to his 96th career regular season shutout.  He is now seven away from tying Terry Sawchuk’s all-time mark of 103.

After losing the Western Conference finals last season, Detroit has surely made amends.  The Red Wings lead the NHL with an outstanding 30-8-3 record after 41 games.  In addition, they have scored the most goals in the league (145), have allowed the fewest goals (89) past Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek, and own the league’s top home record (17-3-1).  For their success, three of their players, two forwards and one defenseman have received the most votes at their position, including Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Niklas Lidstrom.  Two others may play in the All-Star Game.  Brian Rafalski, a former NJ Devils defenseman, received the sixth-most votes among Western Conference D-men and is second among blueliners in points (behind Lidstrom), and Dominik Hasek, aka The Dominator, is third among goalies, although Osgood has been the superior netminder thus far.  Osgood is 18-2-1 with league-bests 1.71 goals against average and .931SV%.

Starting against Brodeur will be his nemesis Roberto Luongo, who has already blanked New Jersey 5-0.  He has a 1.97 GAA, .930SV%, and six shutouts.  Last game, he shut down the Devils archrivals NY Rangers 3-0.  He is the real deal.

As Joel mentioned earlier, John Paddock of the Ottawa Senators and Brent Sutter of the New Jersey Devils will comprise the 2008 All-Star game coaching staff.  Sutter has turned the Devils around, after an inefficient opening month and a half that left them in the Atlantic Division basement.

Forwards

Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh 445,144
Vincent Lecavalier Tampa Bay 198,953
Daniel Alfredsson Ottawa 197,693
Daniel Briere Philadelphia 162,019
Alex Ovechkin Washington 151,389
Ilya Kovalchuk Atlanta 149,535
Dany Heatley Ottawa 116,323
Saku Koivu Montreal 103,395
Maxim Afinogenov Buffalo 95,632
Chris Drury NY Rangers 79,046
Evgeni Malkin Pittsburgh 70,730
Mats Sundin Toronto 69,989
Jason Blake Toronto 63,356
Jaromir Jagr NY Rangers 62,831
*Alex Kovalev Montreal 62,567
Jason Spezza Ottawa 53,013
Simon Gagne Philadelphia 52,934
Thomas Vanek Buffalo 50,335
Marian Hossa Atlanta 49,964
*Mike Richards Philadelphia 45,746
Martin St. Louis Tampa Bay 41,547
Patrik Elias New Jersey 40,350
Brendan Shanahan NY Rangers 38,728
Vyacheslav KozlovAtlanta 32,793
Eric Staal Carolina 31,192
Marc Savard Boston 25,048
Bill Guerin NY Islanders 22,993
Olli Jokinen Florida 22,583
Scott Gomez NY Rangers 21,669
Justin Williams Carolina 19,074
Brian Gionta New Jersey 17,328
*Nik Antropov Toronto 13,256
Brad Richards Tampa Bay 13,135

Defensemen

Andrei Markov Montreal 282,336
Zdeno Chara Boston 234,779
Brian Campbell Buffalo 176,262
Tomas Kaberle Toronto 170,036
Kimmo Timonen Philadelphia 132,977
Wade Redden Ottawa 129,455
Jay Bouwmeester Florida 120,839
Ryan Whitney Pittsburgh 120,590
Bryan McCabe Toronto 97,257
Dan Boyle Tampa Bay 92,050
Chris Phillips Ottawa 90,085
Henrik Tallinder Buffalo 75,016

Goalies

Martin Brodeur New Jersey 185,003
Henrik Lundqvist NY Rangers 154,827
Cristobal Huet Montreal 154,198
Martin Biron Philadelphia 105,449
Ryan Miller Buffalo 76,824
Rick DiPietro NY Islanders 48,865
Ray Emery Ottawa 48,741
Cam Ward Carolina 38,906
Olaf Kolzig Washington 29,244
Tomas Vokoun Florida 24,220

*write-in candidate

Forwards

Henrik Zetterberg Detroit 291,952
Pavel Datsyuk Detroit 262,619
Jarome Iginla Calgary 213,258
Joe Sakic Colorado 150,103
Mike Cammalleri Los Angeles 147,940
Joe Thornton San Jose 131,737
Jonathan Cheechoo San Jose 125,366
Ryan Getzlaf Anaheim 116,799
Marian Gaborik Minnesota 116,733
Jason Arnott Nashville 110,008
Rick Nash Columbus 107,056
Paul Stastny Colorado 104,208
Mike Modano Dallas 84,894
Paul Kariya St. Louis 67,380
Shane Doan Phoenix 65,253
Anze Kopitar Los Angeles 59,035
Markus Naslund Vancouver 48,369
Ryan Smyth Colorado 44,422
Ales Hemsky Edmonton 43,933
Henrik Sedin Vancouver 41,860
Martin Havlat Chicago 40,850
Daniel Sedin Vancouver 40,533
Milan Hejduk Colorado 36,514
Andy McDonald St. Louis 30,955
Patrick Marleau San Jose 28,079
Keith Tkachuk St. Louis 27,931
Brian Rolston Minnesota 24,283
Daymond Langkow Calgary 23,091
Brenden Morrow Dallas 20,121
*Patrick Kane Chicago 17,112
David Legwand Nashville 11,969

Defenseman
Nicklas Lidstrom Detroit 420,436
Dion Phaneuf Calgary 275,395
Chris Pronger Anaheim 181,529
Rob Blake Los Angeles 155,391
Francois Beauchemin Anaheim 135,966
Brian Rafalski Detroit 121,920
Sergei Zubov Dallas 87,474
Scott Hannan Colorado 85,534
Sheldon Souray Edmonton 84,958
Ed Jovanovski Phoenix 79,751
Mattias Ohlund Vancouver 77,470
Lubomir Visnovsky Los Angeles 48,296
Robyn Regehr Calgary 32,861

Goalies
Roberto Luongo Vancouver 228,583
Pascal Leclaire Columbus 165,499
Dominik Hasek Detroit 104,122
Jean-Sebastien Giguere Anaheim 90,596
Miikka Kiprusoff Calgary 74,465
Niklas Backstrom Minnesota 72,029
Evgeni Nabokov San Jose 50,562
Nikolai Khabibulin Chicago 46,259
Marty Turco Dallas 41,141

*write-in candidate

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