"Brooks Laich left Verizon Center on crutches and wearing a brace on his left knee. Still, the Capitals winger forward remained hopeful that the injury was not too serious.

Laich got crunched along the end boards by Dennis Seidenberg with about eight minutes remaining in the second period of Sunday's 4-1 loss to the Bruins. Laich needed to be helped to the dressing room by head athletic trainer Greg Smith and defenseman Karl Alzner.

A few minutes later, Laich, who ranks sixth on the team in scoring with 28 points, came onto the ice during a television timeout and took a twirl. But he promptly returned to the room and did not play another shift."