Being a goalie in the All-Star Game is a lot like being the guy in the dunk tank at the summer fair.
Picture the scene: It's a great day. Everyone's smiling, having a great time in a unique, once-a-year environment. And there's one guy – usually the high school principal, right? – who, because of point-blank softball tosses for $1, plummets into dirty and cold water every 30 seconds.
Cold, lonely, miserable. The only place that isn't fun.
Backstopping an NHL All-Star Game isn't terribly lonely, but there's little doubt it's the least enjoyable activity out there. The last four All-Star showcases averaged 15 goals per game. That's a goal every four minutes. Not quite as bad as it is for the high school principal, but then again the summer fair isn't on national television.
Does it stink that bad?
"A little bit," admitted Martin Brodeur with a smile. Brodeur's upcoming appearance will be his sixth in a row, the third best run in league history behind Terry Sawchuk (seven straight) and Glenn Hall (nine). "But you're only there for 20 minutes. You try and cut down on your losses. It's tough and not a fun thing for the goalies. Just go out there and try to do your best.
"It's 20 minutes of your life. It's not a big deal."
Each goalie plays one period. But during the period Brodeur sits between the pipes, no one will block a shot for him. Defensemen will give away the blue line. Few people will get hit.
Backchecking? Please.
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All-Star (shell) shocker
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Name
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All-Star statistics
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Career statistics
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P. Roy (8 GP, 190 Min.)
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7.58 GAA, .811 save pct.
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2.62 GAA, .909 save pct.
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M. Brodeur (5 GP, 100 Min.)
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5.40 GAA, .845 save pct.
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2.21 GAA, .912 save pct.
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D. Hasek (4 GP, 80 Min.)
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6.75 GAA, .864 save pct.
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2.26 GAA, .925 save pct.
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S. Burke (1 GP, 30 Min.)
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6.00 GAA, .833 save pct.
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3.09 GAA, .898 save pct.
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It will resemble a two-on-one drill more than an NHL game.
Brodeur's savvy and lighthearted attitude stems not only from his natural personality but also from experience; this will be his sixth All-Star appearance.
Two other goalies, who aren't known for the same happy-go-lucky demeanor yet have plenty of All-Star perspective, corroborated Brodeur's approach.
"You just try to get the best of it, knowing you will be beaten a lot of times," said Patrick Roy, who holds the All-Star record for most goals allowed with 24. He will be making his ninth appearance, and you can bet Roy will focus more this year on not getting "beaten a lot of times" because he's playing in front of the hometown crowd.
|  | | Sean Burke may want to think about taking defensive matters into his own hands in Sunday's All-Star Game. |
Because of injuries, Dominik Hasek didn't play last year in Toronto -- when the World Team won for the first time -- so with the new World vs. North America format, he has yet to taste victory.
"For the goalies, it is not so easy because you know there will be lots of two-on-ones, three-on-ones," said Hasek, who boasts an un-Dominator-like 6.75 GAA in All-Star competition. "It's not an NHL game, it is fun, you know, on one side; on the other side you want to play well and you want to win even if it is an exhibition game."
Roy and Hasek, both voted starters for the Feb. 4 game in Denver, have the ability to steal a game for their respective teams. But all their talent won't make a bit of difference with the flurry of anticipated odd-man rushes. So, with the push toward the playoffs set to resume after All-Star weekend, it begs the question whether such an experience can have carry-over effects.
"To me, it's over afterward," Roy said confidently. "You just try to get the best of it and then forget about it."
When first-timer Evgeni Nabokov gets a few butterflies as he prepares for the game, all he has to do is spend a few minutes with Brodeur, who will tell him: "Just try not to embarass yourself too much and have fun."
Sounds easy enough.
Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.
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ALSO SEE
Nabokov aimed for Moscow and hit the NHL
2001 NHL All-Star Game coverage
AUDIO VIDEO
 Roman Cechmanek robs Joe Sakic of a goal with a spectacular glove save.
avi: 1591 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Ray Bourque and Martin Brodeur stop the offensive pressure from the World All-Stars.
avi: 807 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Paul Kariya sets up Joe Sakic and fires a shot over the shoulder of Roman Cechmanek.
avi: 1752 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Luc Robitaille beats a diving Roman Cechmanek for the goal.
avi: 2289 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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