Not All of the News Is Good

The daily meeting with reporters was close to its half-life, Coach Andy Murray having already discussed an improved effort against the San Jose Sharks and the unimproved condition of goaltender Roman Cechmanek.

Then he was handed a single sheet of paper by trainer Pete Demers. His eyes lighted up briefly, enough to signify positive injury news.

Defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky and forwards Ian Laperriere and Esa Pirnes have received doctors’ clearance to practice with the rest of the team and will begin doing so today.

All three players had been sidelined by concussions. Cechmanek has a hip injury.

But one player not on the ready-for-contact list was center Jason Allison, who did not skate Sunday for a second consecutive day.

Murray hoped Allison would be ready to play after Christmas, a prediction that came after Allison had practiced with the team for more than a week.

But Allison did not skate Saturday morning after putting on half his gear and also missed an appointment with team doctor Michael Mellman that night because of a headache.

“I don’t know what Jason’s timetable is,” Murray said. “I still don’t understand what Jason’s injury is totally. I don’t know if anybody does. It’s gone from one thing to the other thing. Every time I hear, it’s a different diagnosis and so on. There isn’t a doctor in North America that he hasn’t seen. They’ve all said he’s ready to play. But if he’s not feeling right, he can’t play.”

Allison has been out since Jan. 25 because of a whiplash injury. More recently, he has been diagnosed with accompanying post-traumatic migraine symptoms.

“I’m not doubting him at all,” Murray said. “It’s just been so tough to put a handle on it. I just keep getting told different things that he has.”

*

Cechmanek will not play Tuesday against the New York Rangers, because he is still bothered by a bruised hip. Cristobal Huet will start against the Rangers, the 10th consecutive game in which he has played.