Calle Johansson

BaseballNational League -- Announced the retirement of umpire Dutch Rennert.Seattle Mariners -- Agreed to terms with P Kerry Woodson and P Mike Remlinger on one-year contracts and C Mike Fitzgerald on a minor-league contract.Toronto Blue Jays -- Signed P Tony Castillo to a minor-league contract.BasketballMinnesota Timberwolves -- Fired Jimmy Rodgers as coach. Named Sidney Lowe (DeMatha, N.C. State) interim coach.CollegeNCAA -- Placed Winston-Salem State on three years' probation for allowing ineligible athletes to participate in several sports and providing extra benefits to football players.

LANDOVER -- Center Joe Juneau assisted on all of Washington's goals as the Capitals played to a 4-4 tie with the Philadelphia Flyers last night.Martin Gendron, Keith Jones, Dale Hunter and Calle Johansson scored for Washington, and goaltender Jim Carey made 30 saves.But this tie still was a bitter pill for Washington. The Caps had lost 4-3 in overtime to the Flyers in their first preseason game and last night Johansson's power-play goal 5:07 into the third period had given the Capitals a 4-2 lead.

The Washington Capitals and veteran defenseman Calle Johansson parted ways yesterday on friendly terms. Johansson and Caps general manager George McPhee agreed the 16-year veteran would not be part of the team's on-ice plans next season. "Calle is not sure if he will play next season, but if he does, he'll explore free agency," McPhee said. "If he decides not to play, we'd like to have him join our European scouting staff. He was one of our best defensemen for 15 years and is one of the classiest individuals in the game."

Baseball Padres: Agreed to terms with P Nobuaki Yoshida on minor-league contract. Phillies: Agreed to terms with IF Kevin Jordan and P Scott Aldred on one-year contracts. Twins: Agreed to terms with P Bob Wells on two-year contract. Basketball Timberwolves: Activated F Wally Szczerbiak from injured list. Released C Eric Riley. Suns: Activated F Corie Blount from injured list. Released F Ben Davis from 10-day contract. USA Basketball: Selected F Grant Hill of Detroit Pistons, C Alonzo Mourning of Miami Heat and G Ray Allen of Milwaukee Bucks to complete 12-member Olympic team roster.

Eastern Conference playoffs(First-round series; best of seven)Season series: Penguins won, 3-1.Offense: Mario Lemieux, the NHL's leading scorer (161 points), leading goal scorer (69), leading power-play scorer (31), leading short-handed goal scorer (8) and leading assist man (92), is back in the playoffs for the first time in two years, anchoring an offense that also includes Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis and Petr Nedved. Washington counters with Peter Bondra (52 goals) and Michal Pivonka (65 assists)

LANDOVER -- The 7,300 fans who came to USAir Arena last night for the third annual Washington Capitals Skills Competition cheered mightily, trying to encourage the Capitals shooters to excel on the hardest shot.But it was Washington Redskins place-kicker Chip Lohmiller, hitting the puck a whopping 94.3 mph, who walked off the winner."That's a little embarrassing," said Washington defenseman Calle Johansson. "But he's a big, strong guy."The Capitals' hardest shooter was Jason Woolley at 94.1 mph.Defenseman Sylvain Cote won fastest skater, completing the circuit in 13.715 seconds.

LANDOVER -- Dino Ciccarelli scored a pair of power-play goals to lead the Washington Capitals to a 6-3 National Hockey League exhibition victory over the Boston Bruins last night before 9,210 at the Capital Centre.It was the first loss of the preseason for Boston (4-1-1) and the first win for the Capitals (1-3-2).Ciccarelli's second goal, at 9 minutes, 5 seconds of the third period, broke a 3-3 tie and came on assists from Michal Pivonka and Chris Felix. Steve Maltais added an insurance goal at 12:14 on passes from Steve Leach and Rod Langway.

Don't jump to any conclusions, the NHL season is not about to start.But, yes, there were 13 Washington Capitals on the ice playing hockey yesterday morning at the Piney Orchard Ice Rink in Odenton.But they paid for their own ice time. They wore name-less jerseys. They skated at less than half speed. There were no coaches in sight.And the NHL lockout continued into its 20th day."We're not here because we're hopeful of anything happening soon," said Washington defenseman Calle Johansson. "The two sides aren't even talking.

The Washington Capitals introduced nine rookies to the NHL last season, but yesterday they took care of two of their players who are much closer to the end of their careers than to the beginning.The Capitals re-signed team captain Dale Hunter and forward Mike Eagles to two-year contracts. Hunter turns 35 in July and has been with Washington since 1987. Eagles, 32, is entering his 12th NHL season and second with the Caps. Goaltender Olie Kolzig, one of the nine rookies, was signed to a one-year contract.

The Washington Capitals, whose locker room resembles a MASH unit, sent defensemen Calle Johansson, Joe Reekie and Stewart Malgunas for more X-rays and exams yesterday.The good news is that the Caps learned that Johansson's right wrist, injured in the team's 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday, is not broken. They also learned that Reekie, who suffered a bruised nerve in his left foot in the same game, is day-to-day.The bad news is that Johansson's wrist is so badly sprained that he still will be out two to four weeks.