The Outlook

In forwards Jagr, Selanne and Forsberg and goaltender Hasek, the World team has quite possibly the four most talented hockey players in... well, the world. The only North American players that can match the speed of the World's three starting forwards are Kariya and possibly reserve Tony Amonte. If the All-Star game develops into a free-for-all shootout with defense and checking at a minimum, as it normally does, the World will make up for last year's one-goal loss.

However, odds are likely that North American veterans Bourque, MacInnis and Yzerman, still fresh from a disappointing finish for Canada in the Olympics, will not allow that to happen. Big, physical North American forwards like Shanahan, Eric Lindros and John LeClair must do what they do best - check, be a general nuisance in front of the opposing goaltender, and check some more. North America must also take advantage of the other three things they have going for them — their experience, tremendous depth, and the fact that Hasek will probably play only one period. If they play as if there's something on the line, they'll win by at least two goals.

Back to the Beginning