Lidstrom, Lewis Named All-Stars

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and head coach Dave Lewis will be a part of the NHL’s Western Conference All-Star team again this season. Lidstrom was named a starting defenseman and Lewis was named the team’s head coach when starting lineups were announced Thursday night.

It is the sixth-straight season that Lidstrom has been named a starting defenseman in the All-Star Game. From 1998 to 2002 he was named to the World All-Star team. Last season he was a member of the Western Conference All-Stars.

Starters for the two teams are determined by fan voting conducted at NHL arenas and online through NHL.com. Lidstrom finished third in Western Conference voting with 90,995 votes. He was behind only Vancouver Canucks winger Todd Bertuzzi and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Rob Blake.

Lewis was named to the Western Conference coaching staff for the second year in a row. Last year he served as the team’s assistant coach. The head coaches of the two teams that had the highest percentage of possible points through Thursday night’s games are named All-Star coaches. Colorado’s loss Thursday night moved Lewis (.648) ahead of Tony Granato (.638).

The final All-Star rosters will be announced on January 22. The All-Star Game will take place on February 8 from St. Paul, Minnesota.