Leg Injury Will Sideline Halpern Tonight

Washington Capitals veteran Jeff Halpern will not play tonight against the Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa Senators because of a leg injury, leaving the team without its captain and second-leading scorer (22 points).

Halpern did not practice yesterday, two days after leaving the Capitals' 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Thrashers in the second period. The injury occurred on Halpern's first shift when, along the sideboards, he appeared to tweak a knee when he was hit by the Thrashers' Jim Slater. He did not return to the game.

Halpern underwent an MRI exam yesterday afternoon to determine the extent of the injury, which team officials only would characterize as located in his "lower body."

The MRI exam, a team spokesman said, "revealed no surprises." Halpern officially is listed as day-to-day.

"We'll have to wait and see where he is," Coach Glen Hanlon said at Piney Orchard Ice Arena. "There's no time frame for his return. It gives us an opportunity to play some more people."

Hanlon said the team will reevaluate Halpern's status later this week.

"With any of these injuries, you have to do what it takes," Hanlon said. "We just want to make sure 100 percent. It's no worse; it's no better. After [today], we'll see how he feels. He'll come back as soon as possible."

Halpern likely will be replaced on the second line by Brooks Laich, who skated between Matt Pettinger and Brian Willsie yesterday.

Halpern (three goals, 19 assists) ranks second on the Capitals in scoring behind rookie Alex Ovechkin. Halpern also spends ample time on both the power-play and penalty-kill units and is one of the team's best defensive forwards. His absence could prove costly against the Senators, who lead the NHL in scoring.

To flesh out the roster, Boyd Gordon and Boyd Kane were recalled from Hershey (Pa.) of the American Hockey League. Gordon, a 22-year-old center and reliable penalty killer, and Kane, a 27-year-old winger, is likely to play on the fourth line alongside veteran center Andrew Cassels.

Gordon is likely to pick up some of Halpern's time on the penalty-kill unit.

"Hopefully, I can step in and do a good job and stay as long as I can," said Gordon, who began the season in Washington but was sent to the minor leagues after nine games. "I just want to fit in and help the team win some games."

Another Honor for Ovechkin

One day after being named the NHL's offensive player of the week, Ovechkin earned the second official honor of his brief career: rookie of the month.

The 20-year-old left wing is a leading candidate to capture the Calder Trophy, given annually to the league's top rookie. He recorded eight goals and 11 assists in 12 games in December.

Ovechkin edged Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, the New York Rangers' Petr Prucha and Philadelphia's Antero Niittymaki, and joins Crosby (October) and Calgary's Dion Phaneuf (November) as the league's rookies of the month this season.

Ovechkin leads the Capitals and all NHL rookies in scoring with 24 goals and 22 assists and will represent Russia in the Winter Games in Turin, Italy, next month. He has a career-best six-game goal-scoring streak heading into tonight's game.

Ovechkin and reporters already had left Piney Orchard by the time the NHL made its announcement, but before leaving he said: "I wish I can play the whole season the way I played [last week]. I wish to play more and more better."

Johnson Returns

Backup goaltender Brent Johnson returned to practice after missing nearly a week because of groin injury suffered in New Jersey last Wednesday. Johnson practiced at full speed and will be back on the bench tonight.