Kariya

In the latest list released Thursday, Paul Kariya of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim remains the top vote-getter with 649,552 votes and has a lead of nearly 240,000 over Brendan Shanahan of the Detroit Red Wings among wingers. Shanahan remains 43,000 votes ahead of San Jose's Owen Nolan for the second starting spot at wing.

The closest race is at defense, where the St. Louis Blues' Chris Pronger (448,358), Rob Blake of the Los Angeles Kings (441,963) and Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins (439,368) are separated by 9,000 votes. Al MacInnis of St. Louis and Chris Chelios of Detroit are also factors in the race. Of the five defensemen, only Pronger has failed to win the Norris Trophy.

Goaltender Curtis Joseph of Toronto collected a second-best overall 485,032 ballots and enjoys a sizeable 216,000-vote advantage over another Red Wing, Chris Osgood.

Steve Yzerman, who scored his 600th careeer goal last month, received 466,159 votes and extended his lead over Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers (313,383) among centers.

If voting had ended Friday, there would be no Americans on the North American starting squad. Chelios is the top U.S. vote-getter with 388,201, but is just fifth among defensemen. The Flyers' John LeClair, who is fourth among wings, is the closest American to a starting spot, standing over 46,000 behind Shanahan.

Kariya is third in the combined voting, trailing Pittsburgh Penguins right wing and NHL leading scorer Jaromir Jagr (903,745) and Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (817,576), who pace the World team.

This is the third straight year in which the NHL is using the World-North American format at the All-Star Game.