Caps LW Ovechkin among East reserves

Jan 9, 2009 - 12:07 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin headlined the reserves for the Eastern Conference All-Star team, which were announced Thursday.

Despite being second in the league with 53 points, the defending Hart Trophy winner was not voted in to start by the fans. However, the Russian was an easy choice as a reserve and will be making his third straight All-Star appearance.

The home-standing Montreal Canadiens took advantage of the fan voting for the East in the 57th midseason gala which will be held at the Bell Centre on January 25.

The four Canadiens starting are goaltender Carey Price, right wing Alexei Kovalev and defensemen Andrei Markov and Mike Komisarek. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins join the Montreal quartet in the starting lineup.

Among the reserves for the East will be three members of the conference-leading Boston Bruins.

Defenseman Zdeno Chara is making his fourth appearance, while goaltender Tim Thomas and center Marc Savard have been named to the team for a second time. Savard is fourth in the league in scoring with 49 points (13 goals, 36 assists).

The rest of the forwards for the Eastern Conference include Vincent Lecavalier of the Tampa Bay Lightning (fourth appearance), Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers (third), Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes (third), Dany Heatley of the Ottawa Senators (third) and three first-timers in Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers, Thomas Vanek of the Buffalo Sabres and Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils.

Trying to contain the high-powered Western Conference attack will be defensemen Jay Bouwmeester of the Florida Panthers (second), Tomas Kaberle of the Toronto Maple Leafs (fourth) and Mark Streit of the New York Islanders (first).

Joining Price and Thomas in the net will be first-time All-Star Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers.