NHL Lauded For Fun Activities Surrounding All-Star Weekend

The NHL's All-Star Skills Competition yesterday in Nashville featured "several laughter- and applause-inducing moments." Avalanche C Matt Duchene and Capitals C Evgeny Kuznetsov "sported cowboy hats during their Breakaway Challenge attempts," and Predators G Pekka Rinne "traded his stick for an acoustic guitar." Canadiens LW John Scott "received one of the loudest ovations during the pre-event introductions" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/31). Fun, the one word "not uttered enough" in hockey these days, "triumphed" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/30).

NBC Sports' Kathryn Tappen said the city of Nashville and the Predators "have truly outdone themselves." There has been "live music being played around town all day, every day, and that synergy between live music and the NHL will continue later this afternoon." Country music artists Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelley and Chris Young will join the four coaches behind the bench for today's game ("Today," NBC, 1/31).