Caps Lose Kolzig To a Knee Injury

Goalie Will Miss at Least Three Weeks

Capitals goaltender Olie Kolzig has played in 45 of Washington's 57 games. He was injured in practice. (By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)

Washington Capitals goaltender Olie Kolzig will be sidelined at least three weeks after suffering a knee injury in practice yesterday, a development that deals the struggling club's faint playoff hopes a devastating blow.

Kolzig was participating in a routine drill when he attempted to move quickly from side to side. But as the 36-year-old kicked out his left pad to stop a shot, he yelped in pain, fell forward and lay prone on the ice.

A hush fell over Kettler Capitals Iceplex as teammates and medical staff gathered around Kolzig, who is one of the team's most important players and a respected voice in the locker room. After about a minute, he carefully climbed back onto his skates and gingerly glided off.

He declined to comment to reporters as he limped to his car after receiving treatment.

"It's stating the obvious, but this is a huge blow," Coach Glen Hanlon said. "We're going to miss him in all areas. But it's over and done with. We're just working on getting him back in there."

General Manager George McPhee said Kolzig's injury probably won't require surgery, but that won't be known until the swelling subsides. Kolzig is the latest Capital to suffer a serious injury and joins defensemen Bryan Muir (broken foot), John Erskine (broken ankle) and Brian Pothier (concussion) as those who are sidelined long term.

"We'll see," McPhee said when asked about the possibility of surgery. "But it's not one of the injuries where he'll come back 90 percent. He'll come back from this 100 percent."

Kolzig has played in 45 of the Capitals' 57 games, posting a 19-19-5 record, 3.06 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Although his statistics don't put him among the league leaders, they're respectable considering the Capitals' inexperienced defense and their league-worst 34.2 shots allowed per game.

"It was upbeat and then it just went silent out there," captain Chris Clark said. "He's the backbone of our team, and to see something go wrong with him, serious or not, is pretty frightening for our team."

With Kolzig sidelined for at least the remainder of February, Brent Johnson will assume the starting role, a job he once held in St. Louis.

"When we were making the decision to bring Brent Johnson back, one of the things that was discussed was that he's a good backup, but that if the time ever came when Kolzig was going to be our for a while, Johnson could be a good number one if he got consistent playing time," McPhee added. "This is his opportunity."

Johnson, 29, who won 34 games for the Blues in 2001-02, had a strong finish last season, his first in Washington, going 4-1-1 in his last six starts, with a 1.78 goals against average and a .958 save percentage during that span. But his play has been uneven in 15 appearances this season (4-7-3, 3.86 goals against average, .885 save percentage).

"Sometimes when you are forced into certain situations, a real plus comes of it," Hanlon said of Johnson. "Because Olie is so solid, Johnny's never had the opportunity to go an extended period of time. But now he's the guy. I'm sure for him it's a couple of long years waiting to get back to the way it was in St. Louis."

Johnson's next start will come Thursday in Tampa. He'll likely be backed up by Frederic Cassivi, who is expected to be recalled today from Hershey (Pa.) of the American Hockey League.

Capitals Notes: Left wing Donald Brashear has signed a one-year extension that will pay him $1.1 million, a $100,000 raise over what he's earning this season. One of the most feared fighters in the game, the 35-year-old ranks fourth this season with 11 fighting majors. "Obviously, I wanted a longer deal, but at my age, they were pretty cautious. It's year-by-year and that's fine with me. I know what I have to do and if I do it, I'll sign [here] again." . . . Right wing Richard Zednik missed yesterday's practice with an undisclosed illness. Defenseman Mike Green and right wing Eric Fehr also were out with undisclosed minor injuries.