All-Star Game Open Thread

all I know is Osgood played this weekend like Toivonen did in the past month

one of these days i just hope they replace the usa iconic stars all over the all-star uniforms every year with a large maple leaf.

or maybe a cypress tree

Or how about a cannabis leaf? The stoners would pay big money for one of those.

ok i stopped watching. i like nash and all, but miking manny and talking to himlive as he gives up a goal? sheesh. sounds like a buttman idea,,

(ok they didnt ask manny a question as he was scored on, but stilll…)

Where did we find the picture of Tim Ezell sleeping?

I gotta say Manny was entertaining this week.. big saves and diving assist during the Young Stars game, stonewalling 3 shooters for the shootout win, and he is a pretty funny guy when miked up.

they ought to mic him up during Blues games. at least it will deter us from watching them give up so many goals

‘distract’ is a better word

by the way, I looked EXACTLY like that during the all-star game.

The NHL did such a good job marketing this weekend that I didn’t even know the youngstars game was already played when I heard about it this morning.

The NHL sucks at getting the word out.

The YoungStars game, as currently constituted, is a friggin’ joke anyway.

Make it an actual game, five-on-five, three 20-minute periods.

There are enough young (under 25) players and goaltenders in the league that you could fairly easily fill out two 18-man rosters.

Get ALL of the best young guns in the league playing, and then, for Christ’s sake… SELL THE DAMN GAME, unlike the “marketing” efforts the NHL did with the game this year.

No doubt Gary “I’m A Dumb Ass” Bettman couldn’t stand the fact that three Blues — Perron, Johnson, Legace — were appearing in the YoungStars game (insert “shaking head” and “rolling eyes” icons here).

Moving the All-Star festivities to the end of the season after the Cup Final, like the NFL did with the Pro Bowl, might also be a good way to get players to actually play in the game, and not sit out because they don’t want to risk injury and miss the second half of the year. But then again, the NHL’s playoffs are so long that you’d have some guys off for two months and then trying to get back into shape for an All-Star Game, so nix on THAT idea…

B.

Well – I’m literally just back from ATL and we had a hell of a good time. We were center ice bench side and Friday night JD & Peter McL were 2 rows in front of us!!! JD made a point of turning around and asking us where we lived, how long ticket holders, etc. Hell of a nice guy. Peter gave us the thumbs up and thought it was great we were making the noise for Emmanuel.
I think Manny made the most of every second of the weekend. I’m sure they didn’t show after the game was over, but he was the last guy off of the ice. He skated over to the corner after everyone started leaving and had his kids, his wife and parents come down and take pictures on the ice with him. Glad I taped it I heard he was pretty funny on the mic Saturday night and what about his assist to Kane for the breakaway………….what a blast to be there. It was funny when they were winding down the YoungStars game, JD started motioning to the ice to pull Manny for an extra attacker – cool to see him so into it as we were.

May not be great TV but being there among 18,000 huge hockey fans from every where you can imagine can’t be beat! Even met some NICE Dead Wing fans, they were very happy for Emmanuel being there and miss him.

Oh, got EJ’s signature, he was doing a signing for Upper Deck and he had a GREAT turnout from all kinds of fans. He was really happy I think to see some Blues fans. We asked if he brought his landlord Al, but he said he wanted to hang at home.

Also, if you have never been to Phillips Arena, imo it is one of the better arenas. Just their concourse alone and their attachment to CNN Place makes it a great venue. Imagine a huge food court and restaurants attached to Scotty where you can get $4 24oz cans and wait in line inside from the elements. Once in Phillips you can have almost any food you can think of from kosher dogs and 3 kinds of sausage, lasagna and pastas, salads, 3 different pizza companies, 2 pretzal companies, real grilled chicken & burgers, (evern turkey burgers!) a Jack Daniels Bar, an Irish Pub, etc. etc……..and for me Labatt Freakin’ Blue!!! :)
For before or after the game go to Jock & Jill’s sports bar in CNN place. One of the BEST run restarants I’ve ever visited. HUGE packed bar and they still get your food to you in less than 15 minutes, it’s hot and more important what you ordered. Very attentive staff, good prices and good food. (try the pasta salad)

Sorry for the babble, but wanted to share my trip! Can’t wait for Montreal next year!!!!

Diana, you are freakin’ dedicated. That is awesome to see. Sounds like you had a blast.

How does one go about getting tickets at the All-Star game and what kind of ballpark are we talking about cost wise? Just curious. Feel free to answer or ignore.

We gained a contact through the NHL back in ’99 Tampa and have somehow been lucky enough to have been passed through each new guy & his interns. We have never had center ice before – usually in on one of the ends. Our first year in Tampa we were the very last row of the arena – in Toronto we were WAY up there too, but it was Toronto so who cares we were in the building! Turek was our lone dude that year.

Anyway, for both days this year- lower bowl was $250 and upper was $175/each ticket. I did feel bad though, the ATL season ticket folks were only able to buy upper bowl – even if their tickets were downstairs.

BTW – Alyssa was in our section, down closer to the ice than row “W”. She had a big boy bodyguard holding her hand as she walked up & down. She is a tiny little thing, but very pretty in person. She started pulling her hair in front of her face to try and hide after awhile. Didn’t get a pic though, he was blocking her….all my friends who are boys will be pissed for that one!

Funniest comment of the night – Was that Denis Savard that scored? – “the dumb ATL girl "fans” sitting behind us". 2 thickly accented GA girls who talked through the ENTIRE game and quoted “Jason” – whoever he was about how much fun they “should” be having. I wanted to flip them over my shoulder and down the steps!!!! I felt like saying, I have partied with Denis Savard and between the Canadian cigarettes and Kokanee beer he drinks, no way he could be scoring anything these days! (remember the Alumni game a few years back at Savvis then between the Blues & Hawks" – the party in the club was just stupid drunk!!!!!)

Just hope Emmanuel can spark the boys in Toronto tomorrow night!!! LET’S GO BLUES!!!!!

Before I forget, we went with a retired couple this year and when we were at the awesome Georgia Aquarium, this Asian-Canadian, Nuckle fan, came up to Mary (wearing her signed Drake jersey) and wanted a picture with her because he was trying to find all the jersey’s in attendance. The Blues was the hardest but best LOGO he had seen all day. Love that Bluenote!

Diana, we should make you a correspondent on stuff like this.

If I would have access to a computer over the weekend, I would have loved too!!!! :)

Wow great job Diana!!!! Awesome report :D