PHOTO OF THE DAY

Dwayne Roloson hits the ice at Oilers practice.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"If they didn't already have respect, they certainly gained it with the way they handled themselves because it was a tough situation for them to be in and they did a fantastic job with it." -- Oilers' defenseman Chris Pronger on Jussi Markkanen and Ty Conklin

GAME BREAKERS

Fernando Pisani (EDM): 2 goals, OT-winner Eric Staal (CAR): 2 goals, 1 assist Chris Pronger (EDM): 2 assists

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

Carolina @ Edmonton 8:00 PM (NBC, CBC, RDS) -- All times Eastern

RECENT EDITIONS

Friday, June 16, 2006 Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Tuesday, June 13, 2006 Monday, June 12, 2006 Sunday, June 11, 2006 Saturday, June 10, 2006 Friday, June 9, 2006 Thursday, June 8, 2006 Wednesday, June 7, 2006 Tuesday, June 6, 2006

Goalie Jussi Markkanen started the season with a groin injury. Although Markkanen compiled a winning 15-12-6 record, he had an unimpressive 3.12 goals-against average and .880 save percentage. That was enough to persuade Edmonton GM Kevin Lowe to trade for goalie Dwayne Roloson. When Roloson was injured, the starting goaltender job for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final was given to Markkanen.

Markkanen is 2-2 in his four starts, with a 2.72 goals-against average and .884 save percentage. Those numbers would be better but for the team breakdown in Game 2, the first game after Roloson was injured. Markkanen appears to be getting better with each start. Defenseman Chris Pronger was asked what is impressing him most about Markkanen in this series. After providing insight on Markkanen's skills, Pronger broadened his answer to give credit to both Markkanen and backup Ty Conklin. He made an important point about three goaltenders splitting practice time.

"I think just how sharp he is handling the puck and seeing the puck," Pronger replied. "... I think it's a credit to the way he's prepared himself. We all know you are one injury away from going in and they (Markkanen and Conklin) certainly worked hard in practice and tried to stay as sharp as they could.

"It's a tough situation rotating the two goalies at one end when 'Roli' is out there in practice. It's not an easy situation to be in, for sure, but they both handled it with a lot of class and certainly gained a lot.

"If they didn't already have respect, they certainly gained it with the way they handled themselves because it was a tough situation for them to be in and they did a fantastic job with it."

***

Edmonton center Shawn Horcoff paid a nice compliment to his coach, Craig MacTavish, Friday morning. When MacTavish was informed, he pushed the spotlight away. As Michael Peca said, the outcome of game is in the hands of the players. That's where MacTavish wants the spotlight to focus.

"I think MacT, more so this year than any other year, has done a great job in keeping us calm and levelheaded," Horcoff said. "There's so many ups and downs and momentum swings in the playoffs. That's the one thing that I have experienced in the playoff run that has taught me at no point can you get down and at no point can you get out of it until you lose that fourth game."

MacTavish said the reason so many people suddenly think he's a coaching genius is a result of one thing.

"Picked up Roloson at the trading deadline!" MacTavish said. "Brilliant coaching ploy!"

***

Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette was told that MacTavish was asked a technical question about goalie Jussi Markanen and MacTavish responded that he doesn't involve himself in such matters, that's goaltending coach Pete Peeters job.

"I told (Carolina Hurricanes GM) Jim (Rutherford), when I was hired, to get a goaltending coach because I never played goal, don't know anything about goaltending and don't know the drills," Laviolette said. "It's such a specialized area of the game."

At a USA Hockey coaching clinic a few years ago at the Continental Airlines Arena, the New Jersey Devils supplied separate coaches for on- and off-ice seminars on defense, offense and goaltending. USA Hockey provides coaching training for all levels of youth hockey. All youth coaches are well advised to avail themselves of this instruction. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello was the general manager of the U.S. Olympic team at the 1998 Winter Olympic in Nagano, Japan. He's a strong supporter of USA Hockey's instructional programs.

Laviolette has had a long and extensive association with USA Hockey, captaining the 1994 Olympic team, and coaching the 2006 Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Torino, with plenty of other service to his country.

"That's so important for coaches at that level to be able to bring back to their teams that kind of instruction," Laviolette said. "You don't get that luxury we have at the professional level to have separate coaches for different aspects of the game. It's a problem at all levels, particularly at the college level and especially the smaller Division II colleges, where they're bringing in 17-year-old kids and you want to help their development but may not have the background and knowledge."

***

Many Philadelphia Flyers fans turned their allegiance to the Hurricanes, because of Rod Brind'Amour, when the Flyers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal by the Buffalo Sabres. They remember Brind'Amour's hard work and savvy play when he wore the Flyers' uniform from 1991-00. Brind'Amour is the captain of the Hurricanes.

"I'm rooting for Rod Brind'Amour," Laviolette said. "He plays the game the right way and he's a good person. He's a great leader for our team."

***

Mike Peca isn't the captain of the Edmonton Oilers, but his leadership skills have been on display in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oilers coach Craig MacTavish matched Peca against Brind'Amour in Games 3 and 4 when he had the benefit of the last line change. Brind'Amour had been on fire for three rounds and two games but wasn't as effective against Peca as he had been against other centers. Look for that matchup again Saturday in Game 6.

Peca's leadership skills earned him the "C" on the sweater with the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

The NHL provides access to players in the dressing rooms after games and practices, but it wouldn't be practical to have all the media in the dressing room. So, selected players are asked to speak to the media from a podium in another part of the arena. Peca is often one of the most sought-after speakers. He gives thoughtful answers and top-notch analysis.

Peca is far from the end of his playing days, but you would think there will be demand if he decides on a coaching career when his playing days are done.

Peca displays genuine concern for his teammates and frequently talks about what it would mean to those players if they won a Stanley Cup. This is Peca's first season with the Oilers, but he seems to be well versed about every teammate's family, history and goals. What's impressive is not only his knowledge but how he includes it into answers, giving the media a more informed view of each teammate.

Each player does about 10 minutes on the podium, generously repeating answers as the reporters and camera people move around to the half dozen or so players on the podium. It must be frustrating to answer the same question again and again, but most players understand and do it well. A reporter who got his 10-minutes worth Friday, then worked the dressing rooms, was impressed to see Peca still answering questions a half hour after he began.

That's going the extra mile. The TV viewers and newspaper and website readers are the beneficiaries.

***

Ba-dum-bump

One last wisecrack from MacTavish before you settle in for Game 6.

Reporter: "Can you assess how Todd Harvey (who replaced Georges Laraque in Game 5) did in Game 4 and how that translates into (Saturday) night's game."

MacTavish: "That's the devious way of asking whether he's going to be in the lineup (Saturday) night. Isn't it? So, (pause) possibly.

To paraphrase Robert Duvall's character, Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore: Some day, this Stanley Cup Final is going to be over and, darn, I'm going to miss it."

Enjoy the game!