Mike Knuble News

Not only were the Washington Capitals short seven skaters, but playing on a second consecutive night for the third straight Saturday, they also were short on energy.

Fresh off a loss at home to the Montreal Canadiens, the Washington Capitals didn't exactly waltz into the Air Canada Centre this morning and figure two points are there for the taking tonight.

An opportunistic foe and an offense that got started too late led to only the second regulation loss at Verizon Center this season for the Washington Capitals.

Despite losing their last game, the Washington Capitals own the NHL's best home record.

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Today's NHL Live! on XM Radio show features four-time Stanley Cup winning general manager Ken Holland of the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals right wing Mike Knuble, who has 5 goals and 10 assists in 18 games this season.

Alex Ovechkin isn't saying for sure, but all signs suggest his injury absence is over and he'll play against the New York Rangers.

NEWARK -- The NHL's most electrifying player is set to make his anticipated return in a most fitting place: under Broadway's bright lights.

Alex Ovechkin wore his familiar red jersey during practice Monday morning, the surest sign yet that the two-time MVP, who is tied for the league lead in goals with 14, is ready to return to the Washington Capitals' lineup after being sidelined for six games.

'As of today he is,' Boudreau said when asked if Ovechkin would play Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers. 'I think he's fine. 'He practiced today [so] there's a good probability of it happening.'

Mathieu Perreault's hands were shaking as he put the phone down. He was out to lunch with his teammate and roommate, Francois Bouchard, when he got the call from Hershey Bears GM Doug Yingst.

Rachel Bilson plays Fez's desire at a wedding where Donna escorts Mitch ; Kitty teaches baby care to Brooke and Kelso.

Just as Alex Ovechkin is about to return, Mike Knuble breaks a finger and will be sidelined three to four weeks.

While Alex Ovechkin still can't say exactly when he'll return to the Washington Capitals' lineup, this much is no longer up for debate: The franchise winger will be back soon.

Ovechkin practiced with his teammates Thursday for the first time since suffering a left shoulder strain on Nov. 1 and did not look encumbered at all by the injury.

He raced up and down the ice, swinging his arms comfortably and carrying his stick in his left hand. He effortlessly zipped passes across the ice to teammates in drills. And, most important, Ovechkin fully wound up on slap shots, sending pucks pinging off goal posts and crackling off the glass behind the net.

1, Washington figured to experience a dropoff in offense. After a 3-2 loss at New Jersey in their first game without Ovechkin, the Capitals scored 11 goals in a home-and-home sweep of Florida, capped with a 7-4 home victory Saturday.

The Washington Capitals will try for a third straight victory without superstar Alex Ovechkin when they host the New York Islanders tonight at Verizon Center.

Ryan Potulny scored his first goal in an Edmonton uniform and added an assist as the Oilers downed Colorado on Sunday.

Mike Knuble, left, of the Washington Capitals, celebrates with his teammates after scoring against the Florida Panthers during Saturday night's game.

SUNRISE, FLA. -- Alex Ovechkin was one of the first Washington Capitals on the ice for practice at BankAtlantic Center and was wearing his full complement of equipment and carrying his stick.

It took only a few minutes for the two-time MVP to realize that he's not quite ready to return to the lineup.

After tapping a teammate's pass into an empty net, Ovechkin, who was practicing for the first time since suffering a strain near his left shoulder Sunday, jokingly began to celebrate. But he couldn't raise his arms much above his chest, and moments later, he put his stick on the bench.

The Washington Capitals are going to struggle to win games without Alex Ovechkin if they continue to end up with more penalties in the offensive zone than goals.

By Michael Hoffman for WMAL and Washington Capitals Examiner The Capitals suffered a very disheartening 5-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets as a gritty effort from Brooks Laich who had 2 goals and Quintin Laing who gave the Capitals a 4-3 lead late in the 3rd was lost in the shuffle thanks to a Columbus team that just would not give up.

In a city consumed with a national health-care debate, the Blue Jackets and Capitals limped out of the Verizon Center tonight after more than a few visits to their respective trainer's rooms.