By ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, SUNMEDIA


LOS ANGELES -- Upon further review, Fernando Pisani is NOT a step away from returning to the Oilers' lineup.

He looked and felt pretty close to getting a green light, and was expecting to play either today in Los Angeles or very soon after that, but as a last precautionary measure before allowing Pisani back the medical staff took an X-ray of his ankle and they didn't like what they saw.

"They weren't completely thrilled with it," said head coach Craig MacTavish. "We won't see him on this trip, barring a miracle cure."

Pisani, who broke his ankle Nov. 17, has been out longer than he'd like, but he knows this is for the best.

"I thought I'd be playing by now, but it's one of those situations where you don't want to rush and injure yourself again," he said.

"You have to do the smart thing, and right now they feel it's best to wait a little longer.

"It feels pretty good, but if I go into the boards awkwardly or someone falls on it or something when it's not fully healed, I'm going to be right back where I started 12 weeks ago."