No pain. But not enough gain that he can play.
There was a Roli the Goalie sighting on the ice at Rexall Place yesterday morning, but Dwayne Roloson is quick to say that Edmonton Oilers fans shouldn't read too much into that.
Roloson yesterday declared himself pain free after skating for the first time since he sprained his right knee in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final against the Carolina Hurricanes, but a quick, mostly relaxed twirl on the blades doesn't translate to a surprise comeback.
Does it?
"I was doing a lot of pivots and turns, just trying to open it up and see where there was pain. There wasn't any, so it was perfect," said Roloson, who skated before the Oilers hit the ice for their morning practice.
KNEE BRACED
Roloson, 35, has been fitted with a brace to protect his knee and has began rehab sessions. Pain free or not, the timetable for healing his damaged MCL doesn't make him a candidate for a return to this series, even if it goes to a seventh game in Carolina Monday.
"If it goes nine, it's a possibility," mused coach Craig MacTavish. "He just wanted to give it a try. I guess you never know, but he's very, very, very doubtful."
Roloson seconds that.
"I don't think so, as of right now," Roloson said. "Like I said, everything has been in the brace. I haven't tried it (skating) without a brace. I haven't tried to go into a butterfly yet.
"Those are important for a goalie. I haven't even tried it. We're not even thinking about doing it yet."
TOUGH TO WATCH
Jussi Markkanen will make his fifth straight start in Game 6 tonight, with Ty Conklin dressing as the backup.
"It's a lot tougher to watch, that's for sure," said Roloson, who had a dozen wins when he went down after being hit by Carolina's Andrew Ladd on a check by Marc-Andre Bergeron.
"I wish I was out there, that's for sure, but unfortunately I'm not. I've just got to do whatever it takes to help us win. Be the best cheerleader out there and help the guys any way I can."
