NEW YORK, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- San Jose Sharks forward Joe Thornton leads all Western Conference players in votes ahead of the NHL All-Star Game.
Thornton, with 614,753 votes, owns a 74,000-vote lead over Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer, who has totaled 540,380.
Other leading vote getters among forwards are Colorado's Joe Sakic (431,961) and San Jose's Jonathan Cheechoo (407,366). Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom is second among Western Conference defenseman with 522,345 votes while write-in candidate Rory Fitzpatrick of Vancouver is next at 486,842.
The leading goaltender in the West is Vancouver's Roberto Luongo with 438,155 votes.
The top three forwards, two defensemen and leading goaltender in the voting earn starting slots in the NHL All-Star Game, set for Jan. 24 in Dallas.
Voting continues through next Wednesday.
