Cheers and a clank for Jokinen in All-Star debut

By STEVEN WINE
AP Sports Writer

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) Playing on his home ice, first-time All-Star Olli Jokinen drew a big ovation when introduced before the game, then triggered a big groan by clanking the final shot off the goal post.

His team lost, but for Jokinen, Sunday's All-Star game still beat a trip to the Bahamas. That's where he was headed with his wife before being chosen a week ago as a replacement on the Eastern Conference squad.

``It was a lot of fun overall,'' the Florida Panthers center said. ``It's a game for fans, and I think this was the best in many years. Obviously we tried to win, but it didn't work out.''

Jokinen scored on a breakaway and assisted on three of Dany Heatley's record-tying four goals, but the East lost to the West 6-5. The game came down to the first All-Star shootout, which the West clinched when Jokinen's shot hit the post.

``I don't even think about that,'' Jokinen said. ``It would have been nice to score there. Sometimes you hit the post, and sometimes the puck goes in.''

But the performance was bittersweet for Jokinen because it was his final game with defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, traded Thursday by the Panthers to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Ozolinsh skipped Saturday's media availability and skills competition because he was uncomfortable about the trade, then decided to play Sunday.

``I talked to a lot of people, and everybody convinced me to come back,'' Ozolinsh said. He added that missing the game ``wouldn't be fair to the people who voted for me.''

Ozolinsh started for the East and received a big cheer from the sellout crowd during pregame ceremonies. He had no goals or assists.

``I don't know if he was happy to be here or not,'' Jokinen said. ``Obviously it was a big shock for him. It was a little weird feeling, but he showed up for the game and he played OK. Now he's heading to the West Coast.''

While Ozolinsh is a seven-time All-Star, the 24-year-old Jokinen is one of the NHL's emerging talents. He leads all NHL centers with 25 goals, more than twice his previous career high.

He was chosen a week ago for his first All-Star Game as a replacement for fellow Finn Saku Koivu of Montreal. Koivu, who overcame non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last season, missed the weekend to undergo a tests as part of a previously scheduled physical exam.

Paired on a line with Heatley and Jaromir Jagr, Jokinen looked like he belonged. His first assist came midway through the opening period, and he added two more in the second.

Jokinen scored the final goal of regulation on a breakaway midway through the third period, flicking the puck over goaltender Marty Turco's left shoulder for a 5-all tie.

``Excellent,'' Ozolinsh said. ``I was really happy for him. It's good to score in an All-Star Game, especially in front of the home crowd.''

In the shootout, the West went ahead 3-1. Then came the miss by Jokinen, the fourth of five shooters for the East, which made the West's lead insurmountable.

But in an All-Star Game, the sting of defeat doesn't last long, and Jokinen sounded like a player who plans to be back.

``Things have been going in the right direction for me,'' he said. ``And after this week, the expectations are going to be even higher. When you play well, you expect to do more and be better.''

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)