Datsyuk, Lidstrom to miss All-Star Game
Wings' veterans to be replaced on West roster by Marleau and Robidas
Wednesday, 01.21.2009 / 6:21 PM
/ News
By John Kreiser
- NHL.com Columnist
PrintSan Jose captain Patrick Marleau and Dallas defenseman Stephane Robidas will replace Datsyuk and Lidstrom on the Western Conference roster for the NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre on Sunday.
There are also four sets of injury-related changes for the NHL YoungStars Game that will be played on Saturday.
Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne will replace Columbus' Steve Mason on the rookie team that will face a team of second-year players. That team will also have Chicago forward Dave Bolland and St. Louis' David Perron in the lineup, replacing Boston's Milan Lucic and Washington's Nicklas Backstrom.
In addition, the second-year players will have Montreal's Carey Price — who will start for the East in Sunday's game — in goal on Saturday, replacing Los Angeles' Erik Ersberg.
Marleau, who has 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points for the league-leading Sharks, including the overtime winner in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Vancouver, will be playing in his third All-Star Game. He was also selected in 2004 and 2007. Marleau joins teammates Joe Thornton and Dan Boyle on the West roster, which will be coached by San Jose's Todd McLellan.
"It's nice obviously when you get a chance to play in the All-Star Game. It's a great honor," Marleau said.
The All-Star Game will be a homecoming of sorts for Robidas, a 31-year-old native of Sherbrooke, Que., who began his career with Montreal. He will be making his first All-Star appearance. Robidas has 2 goals and 16 assists for 18 points in 41 games this season, along with a plus-9 rating.
Datsyuk and Lidstrom were selected as reserves to the All-Star team after the starters were selected by fan balloting. Lidstrom has played in 10 previous All-Star games, which Datsyuk was selected as an All-Star for the third time.
