Howard and his sons enjoy NHL All-Star skills competition

SAN JOSE -- Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard may not have won a prize in the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills competition but he leaves with something better - priceless memories.
This is Howard's third All-Star selection and second appearance. Howard was scheduled to play in the 2015 All-Star Game but had to withdraw because of injury.

Howard did play in the 2012 All-Star Game and was a member of Team (Zdeno) Chara but back then, he only had one child who was too young to appreciate his dad's honor.
"I'm just glad we get to share this moment, this weekend together all of us," Howard said after the event. "Last time I was in this event, Henry wasn't even thought of yet and James was just three months. Time flies. It's really special to be able to be here with them."
Now James IV is 7 and Henry is 4 and both were excited to join their dad for the festivities in San Jose. James also got to bring his best friend, also named Henry.

Howard participated in the Ticketmaster NHL Save Streak but could only muster a two-save streak.

"It was fun," Howard said. "Just wish I could have made a couple more saves. I couldn't get into a rhythm."
Howard has been successful in shootouts the last few years but for this event, it was hard to come in cold after watching some of the other events.
"Yeah, you're in it, you've had a warm up and you're into the game," Howard said of shootouts during the regular season.
New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist earned his moniker as the King, putting together a 12-save streak to defeat Tampa Bay Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy, who had an eight-save streak.
When he wasn't competing, Howard had the perfect view for the other skills events.
"Obviously the hardest shot is the one we pay the most attention to as goalies," Howard said. "It's just a great event. We're here for all the fans. The guys did a good job of putting on a show for them."
Last year, Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin won the hardest shot competition, and this year, with Ovechkin sitting out to rest, his teammate, John Carlson, kept the crown in Washington with a shot of 102.8 mph.
"I have faced that shot before," Howard said with a grin. "I'm surprised he doesn't not slide it over to Ovi. With a bomb like that, I don't know why he's passing."

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid once again won the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater event with a time of 13.378 seconds. Calgary Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau won the Gatorade NHL Puck Control event with a time of 27.045 seconds. Oilers center Leon Draisaitl won the Enterprise NHL Premier Passer event with a time of 1:09.088. Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak won the Honda NHL Accuracy Shooting event with a time of 11.309 seconds.
James IV had the perfect answer when asked what his favorite part of the night was.
"My favorite part was when daddy was in net," he said.
Howard smiled and said, "Thanks, Bud."
Henry had a good time, too, but he had a different favorite part of the night.
"Seeing the Sharkie," Henry said of the San Jose Sharks mascot.
Although neither of Howard's sons plays goalie, James' favorite player besides his dad is a goaltender.
"Fleury," he said, referring to Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.
Then there was a dispute as to Henry's favorite player aside from his dad.
"Dylan Larkin," Howard said.
"No, it's not," Henry said.
"It is," Howard said, laughing. "Don't be shy now."
The boys got to meet some of their other favorites during the day and even collected a few valuable autographs.

"They got Connor McDavid's, and Fleury and Mr. Lundqvist," Howard said. "It seems like you guys have gotten some more since."
"And I got all of the mascots autographs except the Minnesota guy," James said.
Although Howard has been through it all before, seeing everything unfold through his sons' eyes made an already special night unforgettable.
"Just watching them, watching them from afar as they were watching the events, it was pretty cool to see how attentive they were," Howard said.

CATCHING UP WITH PEKKA: When Howard was with the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins from 2005-09, he often played the Milwaukee Admirals.
The goaltender for that team was Pekka Rinne, who now stars for the Nashville Predators.
"Anytime we play against each other, I talk to him," Rinne said. "We have a similar path, played in the minors at the same time. I've always followed his career. It feels like our careers have always crossed paths, played against him a lot. He's had a great career in Detroit. But we don't really stay in touch that much."

The two got a chance to chat during the 2019 SAP NHL All-Star Skills competition.