4 Canadiens elected for NHL East stars in Montreal

By IRA PODELL
AP Hockey Writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Only Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin prevented the Montreal Canadiens from an All-Star sweep.

The NHL announced the starting lineups Saturday for the midseason classic, and the host Canadiens filled four of the six slots for the Eastern Conference.

Crosby and Malkin, teammates and linemates with the defending East champion Pittsburgh Penguins, both broke the record for the most votes and claimed two forward positions. They will be joined up front by Montreal's Alex Kovalev.

Washington's Alex Ovechkin, the league's reigning MVP and second this season in goals and points entering Saturday, finished only sixth among Eastern Conference forwards in the voting - which mystified his coach.

"It's dumb," Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau said, adding: "It's not right the best player in the game is not a starter."

4 Canadiens elected for NHL East stars in Montreal....