Chara, Seguin Prepare to Show Off Skills

By Mark Abraham

“Girls like guys with skills.  You know like Fastest Skater skills, Hardest Shot skills, Shootout skills.  Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills.”  Such would be the advice that Napoleon Dynamite might give to the NHL All Stars for tonights Molson Canadian Skills Competition at 7 PM.

Captain Zdeno Chara chose his lineup carefully in terms of where to put his stars in the different challenges.  Big Z put himself in the Hardest Shot competition.  A simple choice considering he’s won it the past four years, breaking his own record last year with a 105.9 mph bomb that drew applause from the crowd.  Chara’s main competition this year will once again be Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber, who last year was blasting the puck at over 100 mph himself.

Chara put his teammate, forward Tyler Seguin, in the Accuracy Shooting contest after originally asking if he wanted to be in the Fastest Skater contest.  Bruins fans know that Seguin can do well in both of those categories anyway.  There have been many times fans have seen Seguin use his speed to blow by an opposing defenseman or roof a wrist shot past a goalie through a seemingly paper thin opening between the goalie’s shoulder and the corner of the net.  Seguin will also be competing in the Elimination Shootout.

Goalie Tim Thomas will only see action in the Elimination shootout.

Former Bruin Phil Kessel will be competing for Team Chara in the Fastest Skater competition, be a passer in the Accuracy Shooting competition and will be the target shooter in the Challenge Relay competition.  Dennis Wideman, another former Bruin, will compete in the Hardest Shot competition alongside Chara, and will try blasting one-timers in the Challenge Relay.

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