Three big-name All-Stars all pulled out of the mid-season event Monday.

Maple Leafs goaltender Ed Belfour, Rangers defenseman Brian Leetch and Canadiens captain Saku Koivu will not take part in Sunday's game at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Fla.

Belfour won't play because of a sore back and was replaced by Ottawa Senators goalie Patrick Lalime.

Belfour said after practice Monday that he wants to rest his strained back so he'll be in good shape for the last two months of the regular season.

Belfour missed four games in October with back spasms. He was unavailable for three straight games before playing Friday and Saturday.

Lalime has helped the Senators to No. 1 in the overall standings. Going into Monday's game, he had a 2.11 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage and a 23-12-6 record.

This will be Lalime's first All-Star appearance and the third for an Ottawa goaltender. Peter Sidorkiewicz played in the 1993 game and Ron Tugnutt played in 1999.

Lalime will join Senators teammates Marian Hossa and Zdeno Chara on the Eastern team along with Jacques Martin, who will be the coach.

Tampa Bay's Nikolai Khabibulin was the fan-ballot pick as Eastern Conference starting goalie. Belfour and New Jersey's Martin Brodeur were subsequently named to the East roster.

Belfour played in five All-Star Games, most recently in 1999. He has appeared in 38 of Toronto's 50 games and has a 2.15 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage. He has a record of 21-14-3 and has keyed Toronto's strong play after a slow start.

Koivu will miss the All-Star Game because of a routine medical exam to monitor his recovery from abdominal cancer. Florida Panthers center Olli Jokinen will take Koivu's spot on the Eastern Conference roster.

Koivu, who missed most of last season while undergoing treatment for cancer, leads Montreal in scoring this season with 15 goals and 33 assists in 51 games.

His exam is conducted twice a year and had been scheduled well before he was selected for the All-Star Game at Florida. It would have been Koivu's third All-Star appearance.

Tom Poti will replace New York teammate Brian Leetch on the Eastern Conference roster.

Leetch is unable to play because of an ankle injury.

Poti, 25, will be making the first All-Star appearance of his career.

Poti leads the Rangers in points with seven goals and 31 assists in 51 games. His 38 points rank fourth among NHL defensemen.