Steve Konowalchuk

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.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals don't usually play well against the big, dominating Philadelphia Flyers, but last night the Capitals looked like a powerhouse equal to anything the Flyers wanted to throw at them. Using a strong performance by the top checking line - Steve Konowalchuk, Jeff Halpern and Mike Grier - a classic performance by goalie Olie Kolzig and an offensive outburst that warmed the heart of coach Bruce Cassidy, the Capitals sent the Flyers back to Philadelphia pondering the Caps' rousing 4-1 victory.

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' preparation for tonight's game in Buffalo was going on as usual at Piney Orchard Ice Arena yesterday, but the scene was eerily different. It was quiet on the ice. Every skate blade scraping the surface grated on the ears. Every tap of the stick echoed around the boards. The electricity that had surrounded the Capitals' drive toward the final Eastern Conference playoff spot the last month was gone. That's the way it is the day after elimination. With two games left, the Caps know they aren't going anywhere.

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)

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals were on their way to a 7-2 victory over the Penguins last night that would clinch their sixth-place finish in the Eastern Conference, when Peter Bondra looked up to see his NHL goal-scoring lead threatened.But it wasn't threatened long.With the Capitals leading 4-2 in the third period, and Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr having scored the two to get Pittsburgh back in the game and force a goal-scoring tie with Bondra at 32 apiece, Bondra went to work.He scored short-handed -- for an NHL-leading sixth time -- to retake the lead and give the Caps a 4-2 advantage.

The National Hockey League, which settled the first strike in its 75-year history early yesterday, will resume its regular season today.The Washington Capitals, who have clinched second place in the Patrick Division and the home-ice advantage for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, have three regular-season games remaining."

Even when Skipjacks coach Barry Trotz spoke glowingly of his "Young Guns" before the season, he didn't imagine the rookies would be so productive.Offensive-minded kids, Trotz called them. Skillful. Quick. Upbeat. But inexperienced.As the Skipjacks prepare for games against the Utica Devils tonight and tomorrow night at the Baltimore Arena, Trotz notes with pride that he has five players among the American Hockey League's top 10 rookie scorers."It's a great sign, the way these kids in the [Washington]

Today is supposed to be the day for smiles in the NHL. The league and the NHL Players Association are expected to officially sign a six-year collective bargaining agreement, and all around the league, players and coaches will be on the ice for practice for the first time in 3 1/2 months.But last night, details of that agreement still were unclear and the outcome of the players' vote not entirely certain.NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow continued to meet in New York yesterday to work out the remaining "transition" issues.

PHILADELPHIA - The Washington Capitals, who have prided themselves on defense for at least two decades, came into last night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers ranked No. 29 among 30 teams in goals-against average. They came in off one of the most humiliating losses in team history, giving up 11 goals in a loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. They came in hoping to show the Flyers and themselves that they could rebound from such ignoble performances. Instead, the Flyers played the Capitals as if they were a cheap pinball machine in a penny arcade and dealt Washington its seventh loss in nine games, 5-0. It was the fourth time Washington has been shut out this season.

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals have gone beyond feeling as if they're walking a tightrope on ice skates. Last night, they played with the sense of urgency necessary to climb from three games below .500 and into the playoffs. But the Caps got precious little for it, as Washington lost to the Florida Panthers, 2-1. The Capitals made two - just two - costly mistakes, and that was the difference. And even those two blown coverages by the team's top line of Adam Oates, Jaromir Jagr, Dmitri Khristich, Joe Reekie and Sergei Gonchar that allowed goals by Ivan Novoseltsev and Pavel Bure might have been overcome if not for a stone-wall like performance by Florida goalie Roberto Luongo.

PHILADELPHIA - The Washington Capitals, who have prided themselves on defense for at least two decades, came into last night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers ranked No. 29 among 30 teams in goals-against average. They came in off one of the most humiliating losses in team history, giving up 11 goals in a loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night. They came in hoping to show the Flyers and themselves that they could rebound from such ignoble performances. Instead, the Flyers played the Capitals as if they were a cheap pinball machine in a penny arcade and dealt Washington its seventh loss in nine games, 5-0. It was the fourth time Washington has been shut out this season.

WASHINGTON - When Pittsburgh Penguins Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr and Jan Hrdina, one of the most feared lines in the NHL, skate on to the ice tonight at MCI Center in their Eastern Conference playoff opener, they will not be extremely happy. The reason for their discomfort will be the three men staring back at them in Washington Capitals uniforms - Steve Konowalchuk, Jeff Halpern and Ulf Dahlen. Konowalchuk, Halpern and Dahlen are not the most famous NHL players, but they are among the most tenacious.

His skates still on, Peter Bondra clomps into the dressing room, takes a seat at his locker and lays out the game plan for the Washington Capitals' opening-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins."

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.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals produced a microcosm of their season in this one game with the New York Rangers last night. Misfortune, brilliance and disappointment all were on view before a sellout crowd at USAir Arena.A two-goal deficit became a two-goal lead and then a 4-4 tie, as the Capitals earned a point."When we got our fourth goal, we stopped playing as aggressively as we had before," said Washington defenseman Mark Tinordi. "It's a good lesson for us to learn. You've got to play aggressively all the time."

WASHINGTON - The Washington Capitals have gone beyond feeling as if they're walking a tightrope on ice skates. Last night, they played with the sense of urgency necessary to climb from three games below .500 and into the playoffs. But the Caps got precious little for it, as Washington lost to the Florida Panthers, 2-1. The Capitals made two - just two - costly mistakes, and that was the difference. And even those two blown coverages by the team's top line of Adam Oates, Jaromir Jagr, Dmitri Khristich, Joe Reekie and Sergei Gonchar that allowed goals by Ivan Novoseltsev and Pavel Bure might have been overcome if not for a stone-wall like performance by Florida goalie Roberto Luongo.