A number of Capitals played with injuries in the playoffs, Coach Bruce Boudreau and GM George McPhee revealed Thursday. Here's a quick rundown:
*Mike Knuble missed three games with a broken thumb on his right hand but returned earlier than expected and suited up for the final three contests. “The bravest guy is Mike Knuble, who had a broken thumb and pins in his hand,” Boudreau said. “Then he came back and showed such courage. We didn't think he would be ready to play another week.”
*Mike Green missed the third period of Game 3 and all of Game 4 of the semifinals with a hip flexor injury, according to Boudreau. Green suffered the injury in Game 2.
*Tom Poti, limited to only 21 games in the regular season because of a groin muscle strain, is fighting for his career, according to McPhee.
“We haven't had one doctor suggest that he needs surgery. We sent him to a lot of experts. They thought it might [improve] just through rehab and it didn't. I think his career is on the line, and that's too bad. He could get to 80 or 90 percent, but couldn't get beyond a certain threshold. It's hard on him and it was hard on the club because we kept” hoping he might return.
*John Carlson had a hip pointer injury that affected his upper body, according to McPhee. Carlson was hurt in Game 1 of the semis.
*Alex Ovechkin acknowledged playing through more than one injury, but he wouldn't be specific. One is believed to have been a nagging knee injury that required minor surgery and sidelined him for three games in March. We'll probably never know how much of an impact that had on his season, but it probably had something to do with him notching a career-low 32 goals and 85 points.
*Jason Arnott had minor knee surgery, believed to be on his left knee, late in the season.
*Nicklas Backstrom did miss regular season games due to a fractured thumb. But according to both McPhee and Boudreau, the center was healthy in the playoffs. Backstrom had two assists in nine playoff games.
