Craig Berube

Opponent: Boston BruinsSite: FleetCenter, BostonTime: 7:30TV/Radio: Ch. 50/WWLG (1360 AM), WTEM (570 AM)Outlook: The Capitals (4-3) will attempt to break out of a mini-slump during which they have lost back-to-back games. They have had five days off and used them to try to improve their conditioning and reacquaint themselves with RW Peter Bondra and C Michal Pivonka, who returned to the team after reaching contract agreements. Pivonka, who must complete a three-game suspension for a playoff penalty last season, will not be available until the team plays in St. Louis Sunday.

The Washington Capitals learned yesterday that defenseman Calle Johansson could be out up to five weeks with a fractured right wrist.Johansson was injured in a fall near the end of the Capitals' 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday. He joins defensemen Brendan Witt (broken wrist) and Ken Klee (groin) and forwards Steve Konowalchuk (broken thumb), Keith Jones (groin) and Craig Berube (knee) on the injured list.The good news for the Caps was that X-rays of defenseman Joe Reekie's left foot showed only a bruise.

The Washington Capitals learned yesterday that defenseman Calle Johansson could be out up to five weeks with a fractured right wrist.Johansson was injured in a fall near the end of the Capitals' 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Thursday. He joins defensemen Brendan Witt (broken wrist) and Ken Klee (groin) and forwards Steve Konowalchuk (broken thumb), Keith Jones (groin) and Craig Berube (knee) on the injured list.The good news for the Caps was that X-rays of defenseman Joe Reekie's left foot showed only a bruise.

Opponent: New York IslandersSite: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y.Time: 7: 30TV/Radio: NoneOutlook: The Capitals are ninth in the Eastern Conference, one spot out of a playoff berth. Hurt all season by injuries, the Islanders have lost five straight. The Capitals are 3-1 against them, but each game has been close. In their last meeting, Feb. 3, the Caps needed overtime to win, 6-5. Washington is 0-1-2 in its past three games. Capitals LW Keith Jones (groin), LW Craig Berube (torn knee ligaments)

The Washington Capitals, who play their first preseason game in Hershey, Pa., tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers, trimmed their roster yesterday.The Caps returned eight players to their junior teams: goalie Sebastien Charpentier; left wings Scott Cherrey, Daniel Reja, Dwayne Hay, Benoit Gratton, and defensemen Joel Theriault, Joel Cort and Frederick Jobin.Caps defenseman Igor Ulanov, who is one of three Washington players not signed, is on the roster for tonight's game.Peter Bondra, Washington's leading scorer from last year who remains unsigned, and Michal Pivonka, who finished third in points and who is also unsigned, are not expected to play in any preseason games until contracts are worked out.Craig Berube (broken jaw)

The Bruins hardly have fulfilled their own expectations in the first quarter of the NHL season. And even if they avoid defeat at Tampa Bay tonight, they still will have one of the lower point totals in the league.But the Bruins are hoping to gain some momentum from this game, which will be followed by four successive home games."It's important -- from a morale standpoint, we can't continue to outplay teams and lose," coach Steve Kasper said Sunday. "It gets disheartening. We need to come back and feel good about ourselves."

NHL vice president Brian Burke, the man in charge of league discipline, likes physical hockey. He says watching the European-style game is about as exciting "as watching a dog take a nap."Burke said hockey "is a man's game," and NHL fans like physical hockey."I hear people say they like European hockey, the finesse," Burke said. "I've seen European games in which both teams had shot totals under 20. European hockey lacks the sustained intensity and pressure of the North American game. [In the NHL]

The agent for unsigned forwards Peter Bondra and Michal Pivonka yesterday made a new offer to the Washington Capitals, saying the two players could be back on the ice for a total cost of "about $3 million.""Our offer would pay Peter less than Joe Juneau, but give him the capability of earning more," said Rich Winter, who represents both Bondra and Pivonka. "We've also back-ended it so that the lion's share of the burden will come after the team has moved into their new building."Capitals general manager David Poile said he will respond to the offer today.

KANATA, Ontario -- The Washington Capitals defeated Ottawa, 4-2, last night, but found the going difficult in their first appearance at the Palladium, the Senators' new, $270 million arena.Veteran Dale Hunter positioned himself near the far post of the Ottawa goal with 7:20 gone in the third period, and his longtime line mate, Kelly Miller, found him there for the tap-in that broke a tie and turned out to be the game-winner.Steve Konowalchuk gave the team some breathing room with another goal with 7:38 to play as Washington rallied from a two-goal deficit to win."

The Bruins hardly have fulfilled their own expectations in the first quarter of the NHL season. And even if they avoid defeat at Tampa Bay tonight, they still will have one of the lower point totals in the league.But the Bruins are hoping to gain some momentum from this game, which will be followed by four successive home games."It's important -- from a morale standpoint, we can't continue to outplay teams and lose," coach Steve Kasper said Sunday. "It gets disheartening. We need to come back and feel good about ourselves."

The agent for unsigned forwards Peter Bondra and Michal Pivonka yesterday made a new offer to the Washington Capitals, saying the two players could be back on the ice for a total cost of "about $3 million.""Our offer would pay Peter less than Joe Juneau, but give him the capability of earning more," said Rich Winter, who represents both Bondra and Pivonka. "We've also back-ended it so that the lion's share of the burden will come after the team has moved into their new building."Capitals general manager David Poile said he will respond to the offer today.

The Washington Capitals, who play their first preseason game in Hershey, Pa., tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers, trimmed their roster yesterday.The Caps returned eight players to their junior teams: goalie Sebastien Charpentier; left wings Scott Cherrey, Daniel Reja, Dwayne Hay, Benoit Gratton, and defensemen Joel Theriault, Joel Cort and Frederick Jobin.Caps defenseman Igor Ulanov, who is one of three Washington players not signed, is on the roster for tonight's game.Peter Bondra, Washington's leading scorer from last year who remains unsigned, and Michal Pivonka, who finished third in points and who is also unsigned, are not expected to play in any preseason games until contracts are worked out.Craig Berube (broken jaw)