OPINION

By Craig Custance

updated 3:43 a.m. ET Jan. 4, 2009

They voted in record numbers, so you can't fault the effort. But when the 34 million votes from fans picking NHL All-Star starters were finally tabulated, the injustice of the system shined through.

The best teams in each conference, at least according to point totals, were completely shut out. Neither Boston nor San Jose, despite their on-ice dominance, has a player who will crack the starting lineup on Jan. 25 in Montreal.

Not that they're sweating it.

"We know they're some of the best players in the league," San Jose GM Doug Wilson told SportingNews.com last week. "We know that they know that, the people in the game of hockey are aware of that."

If we had it our way, here's how the staring lineups would shape up:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards
The fans pick: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh (1,713,021 votes)

Our pick: Marc Savard, Boston: We get the importance of Sidney Crosby playing a big part in the game, but Savard has been outstanding in centering Boston's emergence as the best team in the East.

The fans pick: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh (1,585,936 votes)

Our pick: Malkin: The fans got this one right. Malkin is our first-half Hart Trophy winner. In the 2008 calendar year, Malkin led all NHL players with 125 points in 81 games played.

The fans pick: Alexei Kovalev, Montreal (1,343,301 votes)

Our pick: Alex Ovechkin, Washington: After a slow start Ovechkin has been dominant in leading the Southeast leading Capitals to the top of the standings despite a slew of injuries to teammates.

Defense
The fans pick: Andrei Markov, Montreal (1,443,091 votes)

Our pick: Markov: Hard to argue with the production Montreal is getting from Markov, one of the most underrated players in the league.

The fans pick: Mike Komisarek, Montreal (1,373,628 votes)

Our pick: Zdeno Chara, Boston: A huge presence on the ice, Chara (plus-18) and teammate Dennis Wideman (plus-26) are one-two in plus/minus among defensemen.

Goalie
The fans pick: Carey Price, Montreal (1,515,885 votes)

Our pick: Tim Thomas, Boston: Thomas wasn't even on the ballot, but he was the game's best goalie in the first half.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards
The fans pick: Patrick Kane, Chicago (917,551 votes)

Our pick: Jarome Iginla, Calgary: Iginla has led the Flames to the top of the Northwest division and leads all Western conference forwards with 45 points.

The fans pick: Jonathan Toews, Chicago (809,599 votes)

Our pick: Joe Thornton, San Jose: Thornton is the best forward on the best team in the West.

The fans pick: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim (716,569 votes)

Our pick: Getzlaf: We like the Getzlaf selection, who barely edges Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa in our opinion.

Defense
The fans pick: Brian Campbell, Chicago (784,476 votes)

Our pick: Shea Weber, Nashville: Weber has raised his game to another level now that he's healthy. And if we had to pick a Chicago defenseman, it'd be Duncan Keith.

The fans pick: Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim (637,316 votes)

Our pick: Dan Boyle, San Jose: Boyle's trade to the Sharks had a huge impact both on his new team and the one he left behind in Tampa Bay.

Goalie
The fans pick: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Anaheim (617,241 votes)

Our pick: Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota: Having a nice contract year (17-12-2, 2.28 GAA, .924 save percentage), but barely edges the surging Steve Mason as our All-Star starter.

Also on NBCSports.com Rosenthal: Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes Circling the Bases: Dodgers unlikely to land Halladay Inside the Irish: Clausen reportedly involved in fight Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is NBA’s MVP  |  Fan Ranker Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

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