America Tips World Stars New Intercontinental Format Puts Some Life In Nhl All-Star Game

Detroit Red Wings center Igor Larionov and New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur shared a moment after Sunday’s All-Star Game.

A few minutes prior, Larionov, a world-renowned playmaker, glided down the wing, found Brodeur overplaying the pass and flipped the puck between the goalie’s legs for the last score of the evening.

Larionov’s World All-Stars lost to the North Americans, 8-7, in the first game of the new format, a change embraced by players. As they lined up for the postgame handshake, the French Canadian kid and the Russian legend shared a few words and a hearty laugh.

“He told me in handshakes he was expecting a pass from me,” Larionov said. “I said, ‘Hey, I shoot puck once in a while.’ “

That spirit of camaraderie between countries makes the event special - more than an annual collection of great goals and beautiful saves. Everyone there is a star who acts selflessly.

The game, and the first period alone, proved historic.

Wayne Gretzky gained sole possession of the All-Star points lead, Patrick Roy became the most scored upon goalie in All-Star history, the World team scored the fastest two goals to start a game (2:15), the first video replay goal was scored, and well, it was also the first period ever played under the new format.

Teemu Selanne scored the third goal of the game 4 minutes in to put the World team up, 3-0, though play continued for several minutes until the next stoppage of play allowed the replay judges to discern that the puck had gone in.

The North Americans got into the game on the next faceoff. John LeClair stormed through Sergei Zubov and beat Dominik Hasek with a wrist shot. By the end of the period, the score was tied at 3.

Selanne later added a third goal and was named MVP, making him the first European player to get that honor and the first to score a hat trick in All-Star competition.

Finland, which finished third in the 1994 Olympics, isn’t expected to win a medal in Nagano. But the Finns were well-represented Sunday, with Selanne, Jari Kurri, Saku Koivu and Jere Lehtinen combining for four goals and six assists.

The North Americans built an 8-5 lead as Mark Messier celebrated his 37th birthday with a goal on an assist from old buddy Gretzky with 16 minutes left. Goals by Igor Kravchuk and Larionov made things close, but the Canada-U.S. team held on.

The teams combined for 15 or more goals for the seventh time in All-Star play during the 1990s.

Jagr reportedly has new deal

High-scoring forward Jaromir Jagr and the Pittsburgh Penguins reportedly have agreed to a contract extension worth approximately $40 million.

Although both sides refused to discuss the matter at length, the contract could be announced early this week, the Toronto Sun said Sunday.

The deal will retain the terms of Jagr’s previous deal, which pays him $5.05 million this season and $4.07 next season, but adds four more years at a total of $40 million, starting at $9.5 million in the 1999-2000 season and escalating to $10.4 million in 2003-04.