By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.comRALEIGH, N.C.Here are five thoughts from the NHL All-Star game at the RBC Center in Raleigh with Team Staal and Team Lidstrom tied at a 4-4 score after the first 20 minutes in North Carolina.1)The team payroll of Team Lidstrom is 102,675,000 while the payroll of Team Staal is 102,231,700 after the NHL All-Star fantasy draft on Friday night. Amazing how even the two teams ended up, and even more amazing when NHL salary cap of 59.4 million is considered.2)Good to see Phil Kessel came into the game all fire and brimstone after being Mr. Irrelevant in the fantasy draft on Friday night. I dont think there is anything that will ever light a fire under No. 81even in an exhibition atmosphere.3)Too much passing by Team Staal after they scored a bunch of goals early in the game. I think everybody would love to see one team just load up and drop eights goals on the other one to underscore the outlandish nature of the All-Star game.4)Matt Duchene is pretty nasty. That little leg kick fake on a breakaway against Cam Ward totally froze the Carolina goalie, and then he simply roofed a shot over the glove hand. Respect him all the more after the way he handled himself on twitter after the microphones overheard him joking how hung over he was on Saturday after drinking too much vodka.5)Good thing Tim Thomas is playing the third period for Team Lidstrom. They may need him, and he may get a shot at his third consecutive winning decision in an All-Star game.