MONTREAL -- For Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, if there is a player who has the right to skip the NHL all-star game it is his captain Nicklas Lidstrom. Charles Johnson Panthers Jersey . Lidstrom and fellow 41-year-old Teemu Selanne of the Anaheim Ducks asked the league not to select them for all-star duty this week in Ottawa so they could spend the four-day break with their families. Neither was included on the list of 38 stars and 12 rookies released last week, a group that has already had a run of changes due to injuries and saw Washingtons Alex Ovechkin opt out because he is serving a three-game suspension. The game had already lost Jonathan Toews, Mikko Koivu and Dustin Byfuglien to injuries, while the biggest star of all, Sidney Crosby, has been out most of the season with a concussion. "At 41 years of age and with seven Norris trophies and going to the all-star game every year, I think if (Lidstrom) needs four days off, the National Hockey League respects that," Babcock said Wednesday as the Red Wings prepared to face the Montreal Canadiens in the only game scheduled on the final night before the break. "There was no fooling around. It was done up front. He deserves the time off." It turns out that Lidstrom may not have been able to play in Ottawa anyway. He took part in the Wings morning skate, but left early and did not speak to the media because he has a cold. The team later announced he would not play against the Canadiens. Lidstrom has attended 11 all-star games and Selanne 10 in their careers. But three years ago in Montreal, Lidstrom and teammate Pavel Datsyuk were forced to sit out the first game after the break after refusing to play the all-star game. That rule was brought in that year after a handful of no-shows at the 2008 game in Atlanta sparked anger from the NHL over players obligation to fans, league sponsors and rights holders to support the leagues showcase event. Crosby avoided suspension by flying in at the last moment, if only to participate in off-ice activities and not the game. Lidstrom and Selanne got around the rule this year because they were never named to the team, so they are not turning down an all-star invitation. At least Lidstrom, if not both, would surely have been named to the roster. Datsyuk, along with Wings goalie Jimmy Howard, was named to the team and said hes looking forward to it, even if the 33-year-old admits that, as a rule "its better to have a vacation a few days and not play. We have a lot of travel." Lidstrom was captain of a team at last years all-star game in Carolina. Despite his advanced age for an NHL player, Lidstrom still averages 23.43 minutes of ice time per game and his level of performance does not seemed to have dipped at all. His 10 goals ties Nashvilles Shea Weber for best among the leagues defencemen. The Red Wings concern is to convince him to continue playing beyond this season. General manager Ken Holland said recently he wouldnt hesitate to sign him to a two or three year contract, but after talking over his future with his family the last two summers Lidstrom has signed only one-year deals, each at the bargain price of US$6.2 million. Babcock is optimistic he will play again in 2012-13. "I would think (he will) if hes good and the teams good," said Babcock. "Nicks not going to play on a bad team and why would he? "If his game falls off I dont think hell play either. But he likes it, he enjoys the day in, day out routine of the league. He seems to be having lots of fun. If he plays well and we play well I think hell be back." Centre Henrik Zetterberg said the whole team holds its breath each summer waiting for Lidstrom to announce he will return. "We hope he can play for many more years," said Zetterberg. "This summer was a nervous time for all of us. "He waited a long time before he made his decision to play again. Hopefully hell make a quicker decision this summer and decide to come back and play another year. It all comes down to him and his family and how he feels and how his body feels and whether hes healthy enough to play another year. He works hard off the ice and thats one reason he can still play at the top level." Lidstrom has played on four Stanley Cup teams and had a large role in keeping the Red Wings among the NHLs elite teams for the last 15 years. Some wonder if that will start coming undone the moment he retires. "Its going to be different for sure when he leaves," said Zetterberg. "We would have to pick it up and players would have to step in, but its tough for one player to do that. All the guys have to chip in when he leaves and try to fill his spot. "It is amazing the way he still plays at 41. I think Gordie (Howe) played until he was 50. Hopefully he can go like that." Tiquan Underwood Womens Jersey . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. Ryan Kalil Womens Jersey . Tanaka has certainly lived up to the hype this season, going 10-1 with an American League-best 2.02 ERA. The Japanese right-hander went the distance to win his fourth straight start on Wednesday in Seattle, as he held the Mariners to a pair of runs and six hits.WICHITA, Kan. -- Wichita State went to the Final Four last year, yet there was something missing for that team: a Missouri Valley Conference championship. This season the Shockers were focused on not letting that happen. So after No. 3 Wichita State routed Drake 83-54 Saturday night behind Tekele Cottons 21 points and Darius Carters 15, the Shockers relished cutting down the nets to celebrate a conference title that seemed like a foregone conclusion some time ago. "It means a lot, it really does," said point guard Fred VanVleet, who had 15 points and six assists. "Its something we didnt do last year. Its special, and we appreciate it. But, at the same time, we have more goals ahead of us." Wichita State (29-0, 16-0 Missouri Valley) is the first team to start 29-0 since Illinois in 2004-05 and is two wins away from a perfect regular season. The Shockers cruised despite leading scorer Cleanthony Early being held to a season-low three points and Ron Baker only scoring six, less than half his season average. Daddy Ugbede scored 14 points, Jordan Daniels had 13 and Aaron Hawley 10 for Drake (14-14, 5-11), which had more turnovers (20) than field goals (18). Drake coach Ray Giacoletti can compare this seasons Wichita State team to that of a year ago. He was an assistant at Gonzaga last season, and the top-seeded Bulldogs lost to the Shockers in the NCAA Tournament. "Its a much better basketball team now than it was at that time," Giacoletti said. "Ive been doing this 29 years and have been around a lot of great teams that try to outscore you and out-talent you. This team tries to out-tough you in every single facet and really doesnt care about the other stuff." That toughness was flaunted in a 31-4 run Wichita State wrapped around halftime, an onslaught so complete that the Shockers completed the 14-1 portion to start the second half without Drake even attemptinng a field goal. Jerricho Cotchery Jersey. After trailing early, the Bulldogs held the Shockers scoreless for over 3 minutes, going on a 9-0 run capped by Hawleys backdoor layup for a 15-14 lead with 9:18 remaining in the first half. To make matters worse for Wichita State, Early was on the bench with two fouls and Baker soon joined him with his second. But Wichita State started the game-turning run behind Carter, a reserve who scored four straight before the Shockers started a parade of baskets at the rim. "I thought Darius gave us a huge lift tonight," Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. "He was really active." VanVleet and Cotton had layups. Cotton and Nick Wiggins had back-to-back slams. VanVleets 3-pointer helped Wichita State lead 31-18 at halftime. The Shockers roll only gained momentum to start the second half. After Drakes Seth VanDeest made a free throw, Wichita State scored 14 straight. Cotton and Carter converted three-point plays to get it started and Carter had another slam. And Kadeem Coleby and VanVleet put back offensive rebounds, bringing roars from the crowd. The Shockers led 45-19 with 16:35 remaining, and Drake seemed befuddled. Much of that had to do with Cotton, who had seven steals in the game. "Was there two Tekele Cottons out there?" Marshall asked, joking. "It sure seemed like it." Cotton said his approach was simple. "I just try to get in position where they dont see me," he said. "Sometimes I can get in the passing lanes and get it. Sometimes, I dont." Hawley ended the run with a 3-pointer 15 seconds later, the Bulldogs first shot attempt of the half. After that, the Shockers could sub liberally and soon start celebrating an outright Missouri Valley title, actually clinched earlier in the day when Indiana State lost. "Hopefully," Marshall said, "this isnt our only championship."cheap jerseys cheap jerseys from china ' ' '
