Nhl Star Format New

The NHL All-Star game, to be played Jan. 18 in Vancouver, British Columbia, will have an international flavor with the North American All-Stars taking on the World All-Stars.

Under the new format, the NHL’s top American and Canadian players will face the top NHL players from the rest of the world, primarily Europe. The starting lineups for both clubs will be selected by hockey fans in NHL All-Star fan balloting.

Montreal Canadiens left wing Brian Savage, 26, the team’s fourth-leading scorer last season, suffered a broken right hand in a preseason game Sunday and will be out three to four weeks, the team said.