The Latvia bump is real.
Buffalo Sabres forward Zemgus Girgensons is in first place after two weeks of NHL All-Star fan voting. The Latvian international has 399,356 votes, putting him well ahead of first-week leader P.K. Subban, who has 240,362.
Girgensons, selected 14th overall at the 2012 entry draft, has seven goals and 13 points with the Sabres after recording eight goals and 22 points in 70 games as a rookie.
The 20-year-old leads Buffalo forwards in ice time and takes the majority of the team's faceoffs, neither of which explain why he leads NHL scoring leader Sidney Crosby (218,672) by over 180,000 votes.
"Maybe all of Latvia is voting for him or something, that's how he's got all the polls behind him," Sabres forward Marcus Foligno told NHL.com. "Maybe we should get a campaign going. Get some promotions out there, maybe he'll get in. If he gets in, that's awesome and I'm happy for him."
If Girgensons' early surge holds up, he will become the third Latvian to play in an NHL All-Star game, joining defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh and goaltender Arturs Irbe.
Chicago Blackhawks forwards Patrick Kane (216,261) and Jonathan Toews (212,994), and defenseman Duncan Keith (208,086) are fourth, fifth and sixth in voting, respectively. Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price leads all goaltenders and is seventh overall with 204,923 votes.
