How Ridiculous is the NHL All-Star Game?

RALEIGH NC - JANUARY 30: Team Lidstrom captain Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings shakes hands with Team Staal captain Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes after Team Lidstrom defeated Team Staal 11 to 10 in the 58th NHL All-Star Game at RBC Center on January 30 2011 in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

I'm not going to lie: I didn't watch the All-Star Game. It's just not that exciting to watch something that doesn't resemble NHL hockey. This table compares NHL events since the lockout, both overall and at even-strength, to the All-Star Game:

Per Game	Season	EV	All-Star	% Change
Goals	5.67	4.72	18.50	243
Shooting %	9.56	8.53	22.09	142
Shot Dist	34.27	34.52	23.95	-31
Saves	53.61	50.61	65.25	27
Misses	23.01	21.58	25.00	15
Blocks	25.96	24.49	14.00	-40
Fenwick	82.29	76.90	108.75	39
Corsi	108.25	101.39	122.75	20
Penalties	11.48	10.03	0.50	-83
Turnovers	31.73	30.90	55.25	77
Hits	24.04	26.83	0.75	-108
Giveaways	13.94	13.70	34.00	146
Takeaways	17.79	17.20	21.25	23
Faceoffs	57.41	51.13	51.25	0
Non-Goal	51.75	46.41	32.75	-26

Not that you didn't know this, but everybody completely stops playing defense in the All-Star game. There have been two penalties and three recorded hits over the last four games, and the average shot on goal is 10 feet closer to the net. That gives us goal-per-game rates that are more than double what they were at the NHL's peak in 1985. Even though players don't play physically, they have a lot of trouble hanging on to the puck - giveaways skyrocket, and takeaways increase too.

Maybe we need new rules? A goal doesn't count unless a team connects 15 consecutive passes before they shoot?