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 Saturday, February 5
World keeps SuperSkills streak alive
 
Associated Press

 TORONTO -- First-time All-Star Viktor Kozlov overshadowed Al MacInnis and Ray Bourque on Saturday night to lead the World team to its third straight victory in the SuperSkills competition, 13-11 over North America.

The World team is undefeated since the NHL adopted this All-Star format in 1998.

Ray Bourque
Ray Bourque had to settle for a tie in his best SuperSkills event.
"The World team has usually won the skills competition, then the North Americans win the game," said Mats Sundin, playing at home in front of a friendly Maple Leafs crowd. "Hopefully we will have a better effort from our team (Sunday) in the game."

Kozlov, of the Florida Panthers, knocked out four targets in five attempts to tie Bourque for the most accurate shot and then scored against Toronto goalie Curtis Joseph in the breakaway relay.

Bourque has won or tied for the accuracy shooting title seven times, including the last four.

Philadelphia Flyers captain Eric Lindros missed the competition with the flu. It was unknown if he would play in the All-Star game.

MacInnis ripped a shot clocked at 100.1 mph to claim the NHL's hardest shot for the fourth straight year and sixth in nine competitions.

The St. Louis defenseman, who missed the net on his second attempt, narrowly defeated North American teammate, John LeClair of Philadelphia, who shot at 100 mph.

Obviously they are closing the gap on me," MacInnis said. "These guys are getting bigger and stronger and it's getting tougher to win this event every year."

It was only the second time MacInnis, who also won in 1991 and 1992, took the title with a shot topping 100 mph. LeClair was the runnerup a year ago in Tampa, Fla.

MacInnis returned to the Blues lineup Thursday night after missing five games because of a collapsed right lung. The injury almost kept him out of All-Star weekend.

"I was very close," MacInnis said about skipping the event. "If there was any risk at all playing in Vancouver the other night, and the All-Star game, obviously I wouldn't have taken that chance."

Mike Richter of the New York Rangers won the goalie competition by stopping all 10 shots in the rapid fire event and four of six in the breakaway relay.

The teams split the puck-control relay and Carolina forward Sami Kapanen won the fastest skater event, finishing in 13.649 seconds. The World team also had a faster average time (14.016).

"The fastest skate was a lot of fun," Kapanen said. "I got a bit more relaxed after that and had a good time."

The World team clinched the night's activities with seven goals in the breakaway relay, highlighted by Sundin's score against Maple Leafs teammate Joseph.

"It's competitive out there," Sundin said. "Everybody wants to do their best and nobody wants to get embarrassed."

Before the skills competition, two teams of former Toronto Maple Leafs defeated a pair of squads made up of Heroes of Hockey 6-1. Frank Mahovlich scored two goals.

Over 100 NHL alumni were in attendance, including players from the first All-Star game in 1947.

"This experience never gets old for me," said Sundin, a five-time All-Star. "It's a great time here, meeting all the players, especially for me now in front of my hometown and home fans.

"It's a great town and I am really going to enjoy this weekend."

 


ALSO SEE
NHL SuperSkills results

SuperSkills video highlights



AUDIO/VIDEO
video
 Paul Kariya wins the one-on-one puck-control event.
avi: 1266 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Sami Kapanen proves to be the NHL's fastest skater.
avi: 899 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Al MacInnis beats John LeClair by one-tenth of a point.
avi: 592 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Mike Richter stones Pavol Demitra on 5 consecutive shots.
avi: 881 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Ray Bourque ties Viktor Kozlov by hitting all 4 targets in only 5 shots.
avi: 1038 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1

 Mats Sundin scores on Toronto teammate Curtis Joseph en route to a World Team victory.
avi: 703 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1