Roloson, Gervais return to LI tonight

Roloson was dealt to the Lightning on New Year's Day and helped Tampa to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final. Gervais was dealt to the Lightning on draft day and he's already paid a minor dividend as well, scoring a goal and an assist in his only game thus far.

Gervais, a 2003 sixth-rounder who played 331 games over six seasons, is in the 6-7-8 defense spot for the Lightning. He will play tonight over former Ranger Matt Gilroy, who played the first two games.

Roloson, who turned 42 on Wednesday, will also play, his third start of the season. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal this summer after nearly getting Tampa to the Stanley Cup. None of it would have been possible if the Isles hadn't sent him to Tampa for D Ty Wishart midway through last season.

"When I signed (with the Islanders in 2009), Garth (Snow) told me the situation, what could happen. And to his credit, he stuck to his word, we weren't in the playoff race and he traded me," Roloson said. "Appreciative is too lenient a word. It's more respect and honor for what (Snow) did."

Gervais didn't expect to return to the Isles after playing 53 games last season, mostly as a fill-in.

"Everything here is really solid with where they're heading," Gervais said. "There's no taking it easy in drills, in practice with guys like Marty St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier, Steven Stamkos. Six years, I have a lot of friends here, but when the puck drops, there's no friends out there."