Hockey Talk for the Intelligent Fan

Due to my son’s interest in the All Star Game, I watched far more of it than I would have ordinarily preferred. And I have to admit, I saw a few things that impressed me, despite my negative attitude going in to the game.

- Tim Thomas’ full-split kick save in the third period was a thing of absolute beauty - it’s a travesty that he was not the starter in that game for the East.

- The last few minutes of the game and the overtime actually had some intensity and speed to it, and Ovechkin’s shootout goal was quite impressive.

BUT,

- I didn’t see a single player skating at more than half speed until the last few minutes of the third period.

- The wraparound goal that scored on Backstrom at the beginning of the first might have been the worst goal I’ve ever seen a goalie allow.  He didn’t even make an attempt.

- Players actually went out of their way to avoid hitting each other…….even routine battles for the puck were avoided.

Bottom line for me?  It’s supposed to be one of the NHL’s marquee events…….something that can show off your game for the beautiful and intense sport that it is.  And instead, we get players skating at half speed and barely competing.  If anyone in the world turned that on as the first hockey game they’ve ever watched, I’ll lay odds it was also the last.