NHL Scores With Mohr At 2010 Awards In Vegas

Coming off a 2009 production disaster and audience snoozer, the league redoubled its efforts for their sophomore awards outing in Las Vegas. What a difference a year makes.

Hiring hockey hater Jay Mohr to host, the gloves came off early and often as the comic bashed Boston and Washington for their playoff collapses, explained the distinct differences between 'hooking' and 'two minutes in the box' in the NHL and Sin City, and likened league poster boy Ovechkin's mug to a Pacific Northwest murderer. Nobody was safe. Not even Duncan Keith.
In short, Mohr knocked the cover off the ball bringing the show a much needed 'R' rated edge to match its host city's sensibility, saving it from another sorely stilted affair. Performances by Cirque De Soleil and Snoop Dogg coupled with this well executed sketch starring Anaheim's Ryan Getlaf and Bobby Ryan kept the audience entertained between trophies.
Having Kings hottie Heidi Androl present the statisically-earned awards off-stage and The Hour's George Stroumboulopoulos interview attendees side-stage was a nice touch, setting up candid moments like this one with the ever-womanizing Patrick Kane.
In the hours outside of the telecast it was business as usual: Ovie at the club, Kane spinning roulette, and Kesler on craps. With the third (and perhaps final) installment of the NHL Awards in Las Vegas set for June 22, 2011 at the Palms, fans have one last chance to mingle with their hockey heroes over cocktails in the Mojave. You'd best lock it up before the league moves it someplace you'd rather not be.