Sports: Mask, stick, pads and bull's-eye

Mask, stick, pads and bull's-eye

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO

DENVER -- How did the goaltenders feel during North America's 14-12 victory over the World Sunday at the Pepsi Center?

"Like a target," San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov said.

"You can't really hope for anything out there," New Jersey's Martin Brodeur said. "You hope to survive and not get hurt. You try to make good saves. You try to be spectacular."

Brodeur succeeded in the third period for North America despite giving up five goals on 23 shots. His glove save on Sergei Samsonov was one of the game's best.

"You get enough chances and you're bound to make a good save," Brodeur said.

Phoenix's Sean Burke gave up four goals on 11 shots in the second period.

"There are so many things out there, so many great passes," said Burke, who played for North America. "You overthink it and, all of a sudden, it's in the net."

MARIO SPEAKS: Mario Lemieux wore his owner's hat after the game.

"Players are always going to make a lot of money, but there has to be a limit to it," he said. "Give the owners an opportunity to at least make money. For somebody to go out and pay $125- or $150-million for a franchise, and to lose money every year, is not good business. I can sense some of the owners are getting tired of it."

PERFECT PASS: Anaheim's Paul Kariya made the play of the day when he backhanded a pass through his legs to Colorado's Joe Sakic, who scored from the slot to give North America a 6-4 second period lead. "I've done it a few times in practice," said Kariya, who had three assists. "In games like this, you give everything a try."

POINTLESS: Only four of 36 skaters didn't get a goal or assist: North America's Scott Niedermayer and Ray Bourque, and the World's Marcus Ragnarsson and Janne Niinimaa.

SPEED, DISTANCE: Four players had electronic devices installed in their helmets to track their peak speed and distance skated.

Colorado's Bourque: 22.9 mph, 2.5 miles; Rangers' Theo Fleury: 21.1 mph, 2.8 miles; Florida's Pavel Bure: 19.6 mph, 2.6 miles; Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom: 19.1 mph, 2.7 miles.

ODDS AND ENDS: The game's 98 shots were four off the record set in 1994. ... Fleury had the game's only hit. There were no penalties. ... Bourque played his 19th All-Star Game, second to Gordie Howe's 23. ... North America leads the series 3-1. ... Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch was minus-6 for North America. New Jersey defensemen Scott Stevens and Niedermayer were plus-5.