Jose Theodore and Sheldon Souray are off to Minnesota. The duo have been named to the Eastern conference All-Star team as reserves. This is Theodore’s second trip to the All-Star game, he was selected as a reserve two years ago for the game in Los Angeles. Theodore currently has a 20-14-6 record, a 1.99 goals against average, .929 save percentage and 5 shutouts.
Sheldon Souray will be making his first appearance in an NHL All-Star game. The rugged blueliner has had a breakthrough season scoring 14 goals and tallying 18 assists for a total of 32 points. Expect Big Sheldon to show his stuff off in the Skills Competition’s ‘Hardest Shot’ contest. He should be able to easily pay off any holes he rips through the back of the net, that is, after he receives a considerable raise this summer.
Last year the Canadiens had went unrepresented at the All-Star game, Saku Koivu had been selected as a reserve but was unavailable for the game because of a medical checkup he had scheduled beforehand. Koivu could have been deserving of a selection this year, too, despite missing numerous games earlier this year.
He has been instrumental in the CH’s success in 2003-04, laying the body and making big plays, and the same could be said for Mike Ribeiro. Going into Thursday nights NHL action, ‘Ribs’ was fifth in the Eastern Conference in terms of points by centreman, sitting pretty behind Rob Lang, Mats Sundin, Joe Thornton, and Marc Savard. Savard, surprisingly, was left off of the All-Star roster. Perhaps, though, the biggest surprise on the Eastern roster came in the form of big Keith Primeau. Primeau, who has just 15 points in 40 games, was a very, very questionable selection.
The All-Star game will take place Sunday February 8th in St Paul , Minnesota, and while the game is viewed as a waste by some, having such key members of the Habs’ team in attendance should make it a great thing to watch.