Huet's Back Improves, but Status Is Questionable

Injured goaltender Cristobal Huet did not practice with the Washington Capitals yesterday, and his status for tonight's game in Buffalo probably won't be known until after today's morning skate.

Huet stopped 20 of the 22 shots he faced in Monday's 10-2 thrashing of the Boston Bruins at Verizon Center to pick up his second victory since joining the Capitals at the NHL trade deadline last week. But he left the game between the second and third periods because of back spasms, an injury he suffered while diving back to make a save.

Olie Kolzig, who replaced Huet in the third period, said he expects to start at HSBC Arena as the team resumes its push for the playoffs against the Sabres, the only Eastern Conference team the Capitals have not defeated this season.

"I feel better," Huet said. "It's very tight, and there is certain movement you can't do."

Huet, who appeared somewhat stiff as he stood before reporters at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, said this is his first bout with back spasms.

Brent Johnson, the Capitals' third goalie, was expected to accompany the team on the trip -- just in case, Coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Huet said he will decide this morning whether he will suit up for the game, even if it is only in a backup capacity.

"Back spasms are back spasms," Boudreau said. "I don't know much about them. I don't know if it's going to be one day or a five-day thing."

Backstrom's Quiet Bid

While much is being made of Alex Ovechkin's candidacy for the Hart Trophy as MVP of the league, another Capitals forward is quietly bidding for some postseason recognition of his own.

Nicklas Backstrom, Ovechkin's center, moved into the rookie scoring lead Monday with a goal and three assists against the Bruins. The four-point performance, his third of the season, pushed his point total to 56 (10 goals, 46 assists).

Chicago's Patrick Kane ranks second with 55 points. Phoenix's Peter Mueller and the Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews are tied with 43.

While Toews may be the favorite for rookie of the year honors in the eyes of some, despite missing 16 games because of an ankle injury, it's become clear in recent weeks that Backstrom must be included in the conversation.

"It's not something I think about it," Backstrom said of the rookie scoring race. "I just want to go to the playoffs. That's my goal."

Ovechkin, the 2006 Calder trophy winner, was not so modest when asked about his linemate and close friend.

"He is the best rookie," Ovechkin said. "He makes unbelievable passes. In the future, he will be the best center in the league."

Since Boudreau took the reins in late November, Backstrom has amassed 9 goals, 38 assists and a plus-minus rating of plus-7. That's after struggling in his first 21 games, racking up one goal, eight assists and a minus-5 rating.

Although Backstrom's breakaway goal against the Bruins was his first tally in 21 games, Boudreau didn't sound especially concerned about the 20-year-old Swede's goal drought.

"When you're playing with Alex, you're setting him up and he's doing the shooting," Boudreau said. "If Nicklas was a shooter, the chemistry might not mix. Nicklas takes great pride in making great passes."

Going the Distance

Ovechkin has amassed four goals and three assists in the past two games, putting him back on pace to score 60 goals after a career-worst seven-game goal drought.

There are a few reasons for his recent outburst, but yesterday Ovechkin singled out his personal trainer, former Olympic marathoner Dmitri Kapitonov for helping him break out of his slump.

Kapitonov, who has worked with several other Russian hockey players, including Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar, specializes in massage therapy, cardiovascular fitness and sports psychology. In recent weeks, he has helped Ovechkin with proper warmup and cool-down techniques that, Ovechkin said, have helped him prepare and recover more thoroughly between games.

"I was feeling no good in Philly and Tampa," Ovechkin said, referring to games last month. "So I worked to get back my shape. Right now I feel great. [Dmitri] knows me because we worked together this summer. He knows what I must do."

Last year, Ovechkin's manager, Konstantin Selinevich, introduced him to Kapitonov, who has since relocated to the Washington area to work with Ovechkin for the foreseeable future.