Sabres' Hasek Out With Injury

May 23, 1999 / 4:48 PM EDT / AP

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Dominik Hasek missed Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday because of a groin injury.

He was replaced by Dwayne Roloson, who didn't look like he had only 19 minutes of NHL playoff experience. Roloson, facing nine power plays, made 28 saves as the Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4.

Roloson had the better of veteran Curtis Joseph, who played a shaky game in the Toronto net.

Hasek's injury flared after practice Saturday, and the star goalie removed himself from the lineup before the opener.

"We made the final decision this morning, but yesterday I tried really hard in the practice, but I could see that I cannot go up and down it hurt me too much," Hasek told Canadian Broadcasting Co. "I knew almost 100 percent I could not go today."

Hasek wanted a night's rest to see if he felt better Sunday, but he did not and was not on the ice for the pregame warmpup.

The two-time Hart Trophy winner was unsure if he could play in Game 2 on Tuesday.

"I don't want to speculate," he said. "I wish to wake up tomorrow and feel better, but with this kind of injury it's very difficult to say something."

Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said Hasek could be out more than one game.

"We're going to have our doctors continue to work with him the next day or two and we'll see where it goes from there," he said.

Roloson's only NHL playoff time came against Boston in the second round this spring after Hasek was lifted when the Sabres fell behind 4-1. Roloson faced eight shots and allowed no goals, and the Sabres lost 5-3.

Roloson was backed up by Martin Biron, who was recalled from the AHL farm club in Rochester, N.Y.

"He was ready since yesterday to play," Hasek said.

In 18 regular-season appearances this season, Roloson was 6-8-2 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .909 save percentage. The 29-year-old goalie was a free agent from the Calgary Flames when he signed with the Sabres last July.