Lidstrom and Staal named All-Star game captains
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TORONTO (Reuters) - Carolina Hurricanes forward Eric Staal and Detroit Red Wings defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom have been named captains for the NHL All-Star game, the league said Tuesday.
Under the new All-Star game format, Staal and Lidstrom were voted captains by their fellow All-Stars and will draft teams from a pool of players named to play in the January 30 mid-season classic in Raleigh.
The two teams will be officially known as Team Lidstrom and Team Staal.
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Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby had been expected to be named a captain but remains sidelined with a concussion and might not be fit to play.
Lidstrom, a six-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenceman, will be playing in his 12th All-Star contest.
The Swede, in his 19th NHL season, leads all NHL defencemen in scoring with 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists).
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Staal, the most valuable player at the 2008 All-Star game, leads the Hurricanes in goals with 22 and points with 46.
(Editing by Steve Ginsburg)