OTTAWA - I don't think anyone can argue the fact that the Skills Competition is the most entertaining event of the NHL's annual All-Star Weekend. The actual game can get exciting at times, sure, but it simply does not contain the creativity and personal expression that the Skills Competition does. This event allows the players to remove the business-class face they put on during the regular season and have some fun with the top talents in the league. Because of this, the fans are more responsive and amped up, just as they were tonight at ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa.
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist reinforced that point when talking to the media (myself included) at his locker after his Team Alfredsson defeated Team Chara, 21-12, in the first half of All-Star Weekend...
"We're just trying to have fun and enjoy ourselves," Lundqvist said. "Guys are more relaxed and we're just trying to make sure the fans have a good time."
The fans on hand as well as those watching on television surely had a good time, seeing a 108.8 mph slap shot from Zdeno Chara, or Pavel Datsyuk weaving his way through cones in a silky-smooth manner, or even the more kid-like stunts pulled by Corey Perry and his mini-stick and Patrick Kane and his superman cape. As I said in a previous article this weekend, All-Star Weekend is about the fans and their enjoyment of the game, and the players most definitely entertained them by putting on a show this evening.
Fans of the Rangers were pleased early as rookie forward Carl Hagelin defeated hometown player Colin Greening to win the Fastest Skater Competition. Hagelin's best time around the cones and up center ice came during his 12.993 second lap, which he followed up with a 13.218 second lap in the finals to grab the title.
His goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, was asked to share thoughts on Carl's speed afterwards...
"He was just Carl," said Lundqvist. "He was just flying out there. It was great. His strength makes his first couple strides so much faster than most other guys."
I then sort of took control of the media bunch around Lundqvist, and asked him a few questions of my own since he was unavailable before the Skills Competition earlier this afternoon. My first was about Marian Gaborik, who I pointed out repeatedly kept skating over to Hank on the opposing bench to exchange some trash talk...
"Yeah, we had some talks going on the last few days," Lundqvist said laughingly. "Nothing happened today, but I'll probably face him tomorrow."
I tried to egg Henrik on a bit from there, stating that Gabby did not even make it past the first round of the elimination shootout to face his goaltender. But Henrik kept his focused persona and continued to talk about tomorrow's showdown...
"No, but I look forward to facing him tomorrow. Going against the best players in the world, it's a great challenge. We'll see what happens tomorrow."
I then shifted the focus to the Rangers, because let's face it, I think Henrik much rather talk about them and we much rather hear about them as opposed to the All-Star hoopla. I asked Lundqvist if the weekend was any more special to him being that he was representing the first place club in the Eastern Conference...
"You don't really think about where you are in the standings being here," he said. "You're just proud and happy being here. Wherever you are in the standings, you're here to represent the club and to do the best you can to promote the sport."
From there I went with my go-to question of what's made the Rangers such a consistent team this season - something I asked both Dan Girardi and Marian Gaborik earlier in the day...
"We work really hard," said Lundqvist. "Our consistency has been really good and I think that's the way you stay at the top part of the standings. It's not being better than the rest of the teams, it's being consistent and playing the same game every night three or four times a week. That's the toughest part, but if you do it most of the nights you are going to have a better chance to get wins."
And lastly, I dropped the bomb you've all been asking me to. I asked Lundqvist if the general consensus in the Rangers locker room is that they can go all the way and win a Stanley Cup this season...
"It's early. I can only say that I'm excited where we are right now and what we have as a team. It's probably the best team I've played on since I got to New York," he went on to say. "The attitude is good, but there's so many good teams out there that I think it's pretty open. But it's been an exciting year."
That'll do it for me tonight in Ottawa, but I'll be right back at it tomorrow before and after the All-Star game with more quotes from the locker rooms. I hope you are enjoying my behind-the-scenes coverage so far, and if you haven't already, read my interviews with Dan Girardi, Carl Hagelin and Marian Gaborik from earlier by clicking here.
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