Lemieux, Jagr, Kovalev lead Eastern vote-getters

NEW YORK -- Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux would have a couple of familiar linemates at the NHL All-Star Game if voting for the Eastern Conference team ended this week.

Lemieux is the runaway leader at center in the latest balloting with 130,055 votes. The top vote-getters among wingers are Washington's Jaromir Jagr, who played alongside Lemieux for seven seasons, and Alexei Kovalev of the Penguins.

The lastest totals were released Friday and Jagr has 102,738 votes, while Kovalev's 76,082 are just ahead of Alexander Mogilny (75,437) of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the other starting forward spot.

Two-time Norris Trophy winner Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers tops all Eastern Conference defensemen with 113,251 votes. Scott Stevens is second with 95,729 votes, 4,612 more than New Jersey Devils teammate Scott Niedermayer.

Leetch has missed New York's last 10 games with an ankle injury.

Nikolai Khabibulin of the Tampa Bay Lightning leads goaltenders with 83,005 votes, 5,916 more than Martin Brodeur of the Devils. Carolina's Arturs Irbe, who is just 5-9-1, is third with 71,127 votes.

Voting continues through New Year's Eve and determines the starting lineup for the Feb. 2 game in Sunrise, Fla.

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