BALLSTON, VA - During the playoffs, teams are mum in regards to specific player injuries. Yet, with the Washington Capitals' season over after Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Mike Knuble, Jason Arnott and Alex Ovechkin, among others, revealed that they all suffered and played through injuries all season.
Perhaps the most interesting reveal was when head coach Bruce Boudreau admitted that Knuble broke his thumb in Game 3 of the Caps' first-round series with the New York Rangers and had pins inserted into his hand. Knuble missed Games 4 and 5 against the Rangers and Game 1 against the Lightning with what was believed to be an injured hand.
"I broke it probably about five seconds before I scored in New York," Knuble said, referring to his goal in Game 3. "I got hit by Mike Green there and it shattered. I had four pins put in that night. They're still in there, they tuck them under the skin."
Knuble also added that he had a "couple injections" before each game.
Arnott revealed that he had minor knee surgery after an injury he sustained while with the Caps bothered him to the point that he had no other option. The Caps acquired Arnott from the New Jersey Devils February 28. Arnott missed several games at the end of the regular season.
"it was bothering me for a little while," Arnott said. "I had to get it taken care of. It never heals when you get older. For the most part, it was okay. At one point, I couldn't keep going. I had to get it fixed right away."
Ovechkin, whose cortisone shot earlier this season became a scapegoat for his lack of offensive production, said that he dealt with several injuries throughout the season, but would not specify what the injuries were. He did, however, clarity that his most serious injury bothered him for two months.
"I get hurt," Ovechkin said. "Everybody get hurt. It was something that was what I have almost two months. I play with it and I miss a couple games just for recovery. I think, again, the trainers do unbelievable job. They put me back in the game so I’m standing here. I’m healthy, I’m happy."
General manager George McPhee said that John Carlson played through a hip pointer suffered in Game 1 of the Lightning series, but Carlson said that it did not affect his performance.
"It's playoff hockey, You just have to play through those things. It didn't restrict me too much. It's part of the game."
McPhee also provided an update on Tom Poti, who appeared in only 21 games this season while dealing with a groin injury.
"We haven't had one doctor suggest that he needs surgery," McPhee said. "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."