OTTAWA -- The New York Rangers have garnered plenty of attention this season between beginning the season in Europe, participating in the 2012 Winter Classic in Philadelphia, and also being one of the teams featured in HBO's 24/7 series for a month. Now they enter this afternoon's 2012 NHL All-Star Game with three representatives skating on the ice, and one behind the bench as a coach in John Tortorella. Being the first place team in the Eastern Conference at the moment, the Blueshirts here in Ottawa have been hot commodities among the media, especially Henrik Lundqvist, who is the alternate captain of Team Alfredsson.
"I was really happy and honored that Alfie [Daniel Alfredsson] picked me [to be assistant captain]," Lundqvist said on Saturday. "That adds to the whole experience I think."
But, by right, a team that has found the path to success and as a result climbed to the top of the league standings-wise should be well represented in a tilt that celebrates the game's top talents. And having all of this extra attention has made the weekend a tad more exciting and memorable for the New York participants.
Some downplay All-Star Weekend and the meaning behind it, but to the players, it truly is an honor to be here and regarded as one of the best performers in the league this season. Think of it from defenseman Dan Girardi's perspective, as he told me yesterday that he never thought he'd be here. Now, not only is he going to be playing in this afternoon's much-anticipated game, but he's also been able to share the experience with his fellow teammates as well as his wife and son, who joined him on the trip to Ottawa.
"It's a pretty big honor to be here with these players," Girardi told me. "It means a lot."
Girardi will be paired with Elex Edler of the Vancouver Canucks on defense for Team Alfredsson this evening. He will be going up against Rangers teammate Marian Gaborik, who will be skating on the first offensive line for Team Chara in the game.
In fact, Gaborik will be teamed up with Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings and fellow Slovak Marian Hossa of the Chicago Blackhawks. That's a pretty wicked offensive trio with a tremendous skill-set, so Gaborik may be able to get the best of his rival for the weekend, Henrik Lundqvist.
Gaborik told me yesterday that he had not placed a bet on the game with Henrik, but that they were planning to work something out. Nonetheless, the trash talk between the two has been heavy, both in person and on Twitter...
The Lundqvist-Gaborik rivalry is one of the larger storylines heading into the contest today at ScotiaBank Place, and I honestly cannot wait to get both of their thoughts on the outcome after the final buzzer sounds tonight. That's going to be must-read material for sure.
"With me and Gabby, the talks have been going on for a while," Lundqvist said. "So we'll see what happens."
Either way, the Rangers will steal some of spotlight in a game that is watched league-wide, being that they have several members of the organization here participating. For the team, the organization and its fans, it's healthy to have three different types of skilled players in Lundqvist, Girardi and Gaborik here in Ottawa. If you think about it, it's the perfect representation of the blend the Rangers have put together on their roster this season.
"We have a perfect balance," Gaborik told me when I asked him about the Rangers' consistency this season.
And three of the most important members of that "balance" will be taking center stage in the 2012 NHL All-Star Game today, in addition to the head coach who's put that balance together perfectly this season.
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