Capitals' Kolzig Will Return From Knee Injury Tonight

Goaltender Olie Kolzig will suit up for the first time in a month when the Washington Capitals play the Boston Bruins tonight.

Kolzig tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee while making a routine save in practice on Feb. 12. Since then, the Capitals have won only once, including the season-worst eight-game losing streak they bring into TD Banknorth Garden.

"Being injured stinks," said Kolzig, who previously had never been sidelined for more than four games. "And when you're not winning, that makes it even worse. It might have been a little more tolerable if we were winning."

Kolzig, 36, was sharp during an hour-long practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, his first at full speed since suffering the injury. At one point, Kolzig's trademark temper got the best of him as he turned and smashed his stick over the crossbar after allowing a weak wrist shot to dribble past.

"I have to remind myself that I've been off the ice for four weeks, and my timing isn't going to be the way it was before," Kolzig said, smiling. "You know me. I don't let things fester inside. I let it out."

His backup tonight will be Brent Johnson, who left Monday's 4-2 defeat in Atlanta when he aggravated a nagging knee injury.

Meantime, third-stringer Frederic Cassivi was sent back to Hershey (Pa.) of the American Hockey League.

Kolzig, the franchise's longest tenured player and emotional leader, has been in net for 19 of the Capitals' 24 wins this season and owns a 3.06 goals against average and .909 save percentage, respectable figures considering the inexperienced players in front of him.

"In the [locker] room, around the rink, there's a presence that's missing when he's not there," Coach Glen Hanlon said. "We've come to rely on him for so many different things. He's the face of the organization and there's a big hole when he's not playing."

-- Tarik El-Bashir