List of ailments grows in win over Columbus
Nothing comes easy for the Capitals. At this point they seem to find that rather enjoyable.
Washington lost defenseman John Erskine to injury after a first-period fight, fought off three separate rallies by Columbus and eventually prevailed 4-3 on Thursday night at Verizon Center after an overtime goal by Jason Chimera.
Erskine fought Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll with three minutes left in the first period. After serving a five-minute major penalty, he took just one shift in the second period and didn’t return. The team said he is day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment, an injury that leaves Washington in a serious bind.
On Thursday night, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that Caps defenseman Dennis Wideman is out indefinitely with a severe hematoma in his right leg suffered during Tuesday’s game against Carolina.
| Caps notes |
| » Washington goalie Michal Neuvirth finished with 20 saves. It was his first start since a March 22 victory at Philadelphia. |
| » Columbus played the game without star center Rick Nash (undisclosed injury), who leads the Blue Jackets with 32 goals and 66 points. |
| » The Caps improved to 45-22-11, and with 101 points, they remain the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race with just four games remaining. |
A team spokesman only said that the organization’s official diagnosis holds — Wideman is week-to-week with a lower-body injury. Washington winger Mike Knuble confirmed TSN’s report that Wideman remains hospitalized for the condition — also known as compartment syndrome — in which blood leaks from an artery, vein or capillary into surrounding soft tissue and causes extreme pressure and swelling. A team source said doctors are hopeful the muscle damage is limited. But it is clear now that Wideman is out indefinitely.
The Caps also received goals from John Carlson, Mike Knuble and Jason Arnott. The latter two came during a wild 2:17 stretch in the second period that saw four goals scored. Columbus first tied the game at 1-1 on a goal by Antoine Vermette at 11:10 before Knuble answered 82 seconds later. Fedor Tyutin tied the contest again at 13:14. But Arnott needed just 13 seconds to put Washington ahead for good 3-2 after tapping home a pass from teammate Marco Sturm.
But the Blue Jackets again wouldn’t quit. Columbus forward Scottie Upshall scored with just 5:37 left to tie the game at 3-3.
