FTS - 1/26/08

(Photo Credit: AP)

Capitals LW Alexander Ovechkin scores the game-clinching goal in the shootout to lead the East to a 12-11 SO win over the West in last night's All-Star Game

What an All-Star game that was! It had everything you would expect out of an NHL All-Star game...high scoring, pretty goals, the hometown heroes shining (Canadiens goalie Carey Price only allowed two goals and captain Alexei Kovalev had two goals an an assist), a four goal comeback by the West in the 2nd period, and plenty of bonus hockey to go around. The overtime period was amazing for the lone fact that neither team scored for a whole five minute stretch with it being four on four on the ice. When the shootout came to the league's leading goal scorer in Alexander Ovechkin, he delivered. The game saw 28 different players register a point and earned a couple new entries in the record book - including the second-highest number of goals and a tie for the most combined shots. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this game last night. What's my gripe then? It was on Versus and not NBC in the United States, and that is my major gripe.

It's no secret that the hockey fans are very loyal, but they don't have the numbers that the other three major sports have. The only way to increase those numbers is to increase the exposure of the sport. If you're looking to draw the casual sports fan to watch your sport, you have to address the number one complaint of the sport. For a long time, it was the lack of scoring (which has been rectified to a point). If people want to see goals, then expose the hell out of the All-Star game. Just like the NBA All-Star game, players will take more chances offensively with the defensive play being much more relaxed than a regular season or playoff game. You can't tell me the casual sports fan wouldn't have been captivated by the way Evgeni Malkin was skating and passing last night. It was a display of worldy skills, and it was on a 2nd tier cable network.

I know nothing can be changed about the TV deal between the NHL and Versus now, but it stinks when a great game like last night's wasn't even on the radar of most sports fans. Especially on a night when there wasn't much else on besides average NBA and NCAAB games.