Caps: No Bang, Just Banged Up

The Washington Capitals wrapped up the exhibition season yesterday with a lineup beset by injuries and a handful of healthy players wondering whether they had secured a spot on the regular season roster.

Forwards Dainius Zubrus, Matt Pettinger, Matt Bradley and Jakub Klepis, as well as defenseman Brian Pothier, did not play in a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Verizon Center.

Zubrus and Pettinger are of particular concern to the Capitals. Zubrus, the top-line center, is recovering from offseason knee surgery. He made his preseason debut Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers, but was favoring his left leg following the game and has not skated since.

Pettinger, a third-line winger and critical cog on the penalty-killing unit, was out with an undisclosed injury. Both players are considered questionable for Thursday's opener against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

The decision whether to put one, or both, on injured reserve will be made this morning, General Manager George McPhee said.

Bradley, Klepis and Pothier are not believed to be seriously hurt. That said, the medical staff was concerned enough to hold them out of what amounted to a dress rehearsal.

Team officials steadfastly refused to divulge the nature or location of the injuries after the game. This much is certain: The 23-man roster must be finalized before tomorrow's 3 p.m. deadline.

Klepis and fellow forwards Kris Beech, Rico Fata and Alexandre Giroux are believed to be fighting for the final two roster spots. Klepis finished with five points in four games, Beech had a pair of goals in five contests, Giroux had two assists and Fata was scoreless.

"I've been pretty happy with the effort I've put in, so I'm not too worried," Beech said. "I'm looking forward to figuring out what's going to happen."

McPhee said the decision won't be based on a player's contract.

"There are a bunch of guys trying out for this hockey team and we'll make some decision tomorrow as to who made it, for this week," McPhee said. Contracts don't "have anything to do with it. Last year, we sent a one-way contract to the minors and kept two-ways. It doesn't matter."

McPhee indicated he doesn't anticipate making a trade in the coming 48 hours, adding, "These are our guys. Whatever people are trying to get rid of is what other people have already."