Hosted exclusively on the red carpet by Jason Spezza, NHL 2K8 cover athlete and Eastern Conference All-Star center for the Ottawa Senators, the elite event will pair the top four finalists as they battle through exciting semifinal and championship matches leading to the ultimate showdown on center ice on Sunday, January 27. During the first period of the NHL All-Star game, the two finalists will go head-to-head again for a very special championship exhibition match in front of thousands of cheering fans. The winner will be crowned the top NHL 2K8 player and will receive the grand prize of a brand-new 2008 Dodge Nitro SUV.

Below are further details about the events:

• NHL All-Star Game at Philips Arena
• One Philips Drive
• Atlanta, GA 30303

Events:

Saturday, January 26, 4:00 p.m.: Semifinal and Championship Matches -- Hosted by Jason Spezza, NHL 2K8 cover athlete, the elite event will pair the top four finalists from the United States and Canada as they battle through exciting semifinal and championship matches to win a chance to play on center ice during the NHL All-Star game.

Sunday, January 27, 6:00 p.m.: Championship Exhibition -- During the first period of the NHL All-Star game, the two finalists will go head-to-head again for a very special championship exhibition match in front of thousands of cheering fans. The winner will be crowned the top NHL 2K8 player and will receive the grand prize of a brand-new 2008 Dodge Nitro SUV.

Utilizing 2K Sports' NHL Signature Style, NHL 2K8 will highlight unique player characteristics never before seen in a hockey game. To complement their true-to-life attributes, marquee players will be fitted with branded equipment including skates, sticks, pads and helmets - becoming visually recognizable on the ice.

The new ProStick gives players precision puck handling movements and all new controls intuitively mapped to the right thumb stick while the groundbreaking face-off system brings an unmatched level of depth and strategy with every drop of the puck.

Fans of realistic hockey action will be truly engrossed with the level of control introduced by the ProStick. Stick movement and commands are tied directly to the right analog stick, giving gamers authentic control and puck handling ability. Hundreds of new animations give users a full range of movement, creating a genuine NHL gameplay experience on both offense and defense.

The NHL 2K series has always set the standard in realistic hockey simulation, and with an all new face-off system, NHL 2K8 brings a never-before-seen depth to one of the most important aspects of the game. Working with 2005-2006 NHL MVP and NHL 2K7 cover athlete Joe Thornton, the development team gained unique and valuable insight into the key aspects and subtleties of real NHL face-offs. Based on timing and strategy and featuring warnings, toss-outs, and tie-ups, this innovative approach to face-offs provides gamers with unrivaled detail and realism.

NHL 2K8is currently available worldwide on Xbox 360, and the PS3 and PS2.