Hockeyhead

The NHL’s reigning MVP Alexander Ovechkin was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team this afternoon.  Ovechkin is currenlty ranked second in league scoring and is tied for the league lead in goals (27) with Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres.  Carter and Vanek were also named to the team.

Ovechkin trailed the Montreal Canadiens’ Alex Kovalev in fan voting despite having 24 more points than the Canadiens’ interim captain.  Kovalev was one of four Eastern Conference starters playing for the Habs. New York Islander Mark Streit was also snubbed as a starter despite leading all defensemen in scoring.  He was named to the team today as well.  Streit played for the Canadiens last season, but current Habs’ defenseman Mike Komisarek received more votes from fans.

The All-Star Game will be played in Montreal on January 25th.  You can check the rosters for both teams at tsn.ca.

Another One-Puncher:

A tip of the hat for icecoldnews.com for beating me to the punch (schna, schna, schna) on this one.  Watch Sheldon Souray floor Ohlund with one solid shot after the jump .

Anyone who took in last night’s Canucks and Oilers game should agree that Mats Sundin is not quite in game shape.  It had to be expected that Mats would be a little bit rusty; he spent his off-season filming poker commercials.  The indecisive one saw 15 minutes of ice-time and didn’t look out of place on the power-play with the Sedin twins.  Vancouver won 4-2, Sundin wasn’t much of a factor.

Ottawa’s Jarkko Ruutu was suspended by the NHL for two games and it will cost him $37,707.  Buffalo Sabres’ coach Lindy Ruff doesn’t think biting in the NHL is that uncommon; “I witnessed a few. I saw one teammate get bit right on the back,” he said.  Really?  I’d love to see an NHL hockey player take some chompers to the back.  Joe Ross at NHL Rumors notes that the Senators are possibly looking to move Antoine Vermette and defenceman Christoph Schubert.

I love the Edmonton Oilers, I seriously do, but there has been a butt-load of disappointment on their roster this season.  “The Kid Line” never really took off, Visnovsky has been next to invisible at times, and I think Mathieu Garon was playing in a gentlemen’s league at my local arena last week.  Erik Cole may be the biggest disappointment. Why is it that Cole looks like a 35 goal scorer, and plays like a 35 goal scorer, but lacks ability to consistently put the puck in the net?  He does have four goals in his last six games, putting him on pace for a total in the teens.

On Tonight:

It’s take your pick between the NHL’s oldest rivalry (Leafs and Habs) or the battle of Los Angeles (Ducks and Kings).

Yahoo! Sports for the obligatory Mats photo.

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