NHL ALL-STAR GAME : Coach Plans to Stress Defense

CHICAGO —  Boston Bruin Coach Mike Milbury wasn’t a big fan of last year’s record 19-goal spree in the NHL All-Star Game.

He also says he would rather win the All-Star Game than load his roster with flashy players and suffer a high-scoring defeat.

So today’s 42nd All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium is bound to be different than last year’s 12-7 romp by the Wales Conference over the Campbell.

“They certainly have a tough lineup with (Rick) Tocchet, (Cam) Neely and (Chris) Nilan,” said New Jersey coach John Cunniff.

Two of those players -- Neely and Nilan -- are among five Boston players on this year’s Wales Conference team. Neely was voted into the starting lineup by the fans at right wing along with Boston defenseman Ray Bourque.

When Milbury filled out his roster, he added three of his own players and reportedly wanted to add a fourth before the league stepped in to avoid an outcry.

Along with Nilan, Milbury placed goaltender Andy Moog and defenseman Garry Galley on his team.

Nilan’s selection, in particular, raised some eyebrows around the league. He is known more for his rugged play and ability to fight than his scoring capabilities.

Traditionally, NHL All-Star Games are generally free-wheeling, penalty-free affairs with little or no hitting.

“I’m happy for Chris,” said Nilan’s former coach with the New York Rangers, Roger Neilson. Asked about the questionable choice, Neilson added:

“It’s up to the coach to say how he fills out the roster. (But) there were some strange decisions.”

Neilson also had in mind the snub of Chicago goaltender Ed Belfour, who is leading the league in everything but selling hotdogs.

Belfour has the best record in the NHL (28-11-2 in games through Wednesday), the best goals-against average (2.41) and the best save percentage for goaltenders who have played more than 40 games (.908).

But Edmonton coach John Muckler nevertheless selected his own goaltender, Bill Ranford, when he filled out the roster for his Campbell Conference team.

Ranford will back up the peoples’ choice for the Campbell, Calgary’s Mike Vernon.

While Muckler is sure to hear a negative reaction from the Blackhawks’ fans when he is introduced at Chicago Stadium, some fellow coaches are understanding of his position.

“The coach can’t win,” said Montreal’s Pat Burns, who took heat for his selections to the Wales team for last year’s game in Pittsburgh.

“I was criticized for choosing Shane Corson and Stephane Richer (of Montreal). I got calls from all over the place criticizing my choices. When I got to Pittsburgh, there were big headlines in the newspapers saying I overlooked (the Penguins’) Rob Brown.”

Brown, who has since moved to Hartford, won’t be on this year’s team, either.

But there will be four representatives from the Penguins. Along with starting defenseman Paul Coffey, Milbury has added a “unit” All-Star: the trio of John Cullen, Mark Recchi and Kevin Stevens -- one of the highest scoring lines in the NHL this season.

Along with Coffey, Bourque and Neely, the Wales Conference starting lineup will include Philadelphia’s Tocchet at a wing position and Quebec’s Joe Sakic at center.

Along with Vernon, the starting Campbell Conference lineup includes Calgary’s Al MacInnis and Chicago’s Chris Chelios on defense, Los Angeles’ Wayne Gretzky at center and Luc Robitaille at left wing and St. Louis’ Brett Hull at right wing.

Hull, the NHL’s top goal-scorer, will be another representative of the Hull family appearing at the All-Star weekend.

Friday, Brett’s father, Bobby, and his uncle, Dennis, were listed to play in the “Heroes of Hockey” game featuring oldtime stars. The heroes game will be followed by an All-Stars skills competition, which made its debut at Pittsburgh last year.