By John Raffel

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel, who leads the league in goals and points, has claimed the overall lead in the 2012 NHL All-Star Fan Balloting.

Kessel nabbed the overall lead in the ongoing 2012 NHL All-Star Fan Balloting after emerging as the top goal scorer (16) and point-getter (31) in the NHL this season.

The Maple Leafs hotshot collected 258,446 votes in the first two weeks of balloting, leading Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (256,839 votes) and Senators' captain Daniel Alfredsson (33,868 votes).

Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby continued his mercurial surge as he jumped from ninth to fourth place among forwards (sixth overall) with 206,863 votes after picking up 132,335 votes following his sensational debut/return last week.

After placing 10th among forwards in last week's balloting, Toronto Maple Leafs' Joffrey Lupul also moved notches higher this week after collecting 97,200 votes to put him in sixth among forwards with 166,787 votes.

Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner, has remained on top of the balloting among goalies with 175,315 votes. He leads Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury by 5,600 votes.

The 59th National Hockey League All-Star Game will take place on Jan. 29, 2012 at Scotiabank Place, the home of the Ottawa Senators.

 

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Maple Leafs Forward Phil Kessel Out in Front in NHL All Star Voting