Hometown paper really playing up the NHL All-Star weekend in Raleigh

The News & Observer, which has taken some shots from critics as newspapers have struggled economically, is doing an admirable job covering the NHL All-Star activities being held in its hometown of Raleigh.

The city has been partying downtown since Friday night and the N&O has been there to cover many angles of the story as well as the events themselves which include a Fan Fair, an all-star draft and a skills competition.

Team Staal, as in the Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal, defeated Team Lindstrom, as in Detroit Redwings' Nicklas Lindstrom, in the SuperSkills competition at the RBC Center tonight.

For complete coverage of the skills competition as well as the entire NHL All-Star weekend, including a preview of Sunday's All-Star game, go to the N&O's website at www.newsobserver.com/allstars