Don't get the wrong idea. Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons said Thursday he loves the support from his homeland of Latvia. And obviously from Buffalo too.

But his message when it comes to the All-Star Game this year is pretty much thanks-but-no-thanks.

That was the message he tweeted Wednesday, telling folks in Latvia not to vote for him for this year's All-Star Game. With a clear push from his home country, Girgensons was selected for last year's game in Columbus but doesn't want a similar situation for this season's game in Nashville.

"All due respect to fans, it's just something that you have to deserve," Girgensons said Thursday in First Niagara Center. "How it went last year, I don't want to repeat that. It's a lot of pressure on me and something that's not earned right now.

"It was mixed emotions, different emotions," he said. "It's not something I got too much satisfaction out of and something I don't want to repeat this year."

Girgensons has just two goals and two assists this season but his rating in 21 games is just minus-1. The Sabres clearly missed him defensively and on faceoffs when he missed four games due to an injury last month.

"I don't think I've played bad. I've stuck with it," he said. "My offensive production hasn't been where it was last year but I think I've done a pretty decent job overall. I hope I can get more chances at scoring and making plays."