Mike Blake / Reuters

Edmonton goaltender Dwayne Roloson is tended to by a trainer during Monday's loss to Carolina in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals on Monday. Roloson, who has shined for the Oilers in the playoffs, is expected to miss the rest of the finals with a knee injury.

He might get some more now, if the comedic tandem of Markkanen and Conklin — now completely rusty with only one start between them since the March 9 trading deadline — continue the pace that necessitated the acquisition of Roloson in the first place.

"Well, that's the first time I've come in with five minutes left in a Stanley Cup final. It's going to be a learning process, obviously," Conklin said after the game. "I just held on to the puck too long [behind the net]. I didn't make the play quickly. That was not a mistake that I think I would normally make."

Edmonton blitzed confidently out of the gate with the game's first three goals, a scenario that seldom played out early in the season when the shaky play of both goalies made Edmonton a defensively conscious team by sheer need. They led the league in allowing the fewest shots against — because they had to — and still, the Oilers struggled along, every player in the dressing room assured by the fact their GM was shopping for a new goalie.

Now they'll have to get their heads around a return to the future. You can bet Carolina smells blood.

"I've been in this situation (when he was a player in St. Louis) when Nick Kypreos ran into Fuhrsie [Grant Fuhr]," said a hopeful MacTavish. "Jon Casey, who had been off for as long as Jussi and Ty have been, came in and played well for us."

Who will MacTavish play in Game 2 on Wednesday night?

Special feature Schedule, stats, player breakdowns, pick

Lost in the post mortem was the fact that these two clubs played a whale of a game Monday, with Carolina storming back to take a 4-3 lead, amid some fine offensive play and stellar goaltending from the game's first star, Carolina goalie Cam Ward. Ales Hemsky tied the game, Brind'Amour put Carolina back in front, but before it was over Ward saved his best for last. He threw out an arm to stop Shawn Horcoff with just a few ticks left on the clock, set up by a marvellous Ryan Smyth feed.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

A fortunate goalie.

Boy, how the Edmonton Oilers are going to need one of those from here on in.

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Devils get it done in Game 5

NJ blows three-goal lead, but Ryan Carter's late goal helps No. 6 seed beat NY Rangers 5-3, move within one win of Stanley Cup finals on Wednesday.

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Highlights: Devils defeat Rangers in Game 5

  In New York, New Jersey took Game 5 with a 5-3 win and lead the series 3-2. The Rangers fought back from an early 3 goal deficit in the first period to tie the game early in the third period, only to see the Devils score two unanswered goals to win the game.

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