THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PITTSBURGH -- Washington Capitals backup goalie Brent Johnson sprained his left knee late in the first period of a 4-3 overtime loss in Pittsburgh on Thursday night and will be out at least a week.

The Capitals also played most of the third period without star Alex Ovechkin, who needed a several stitches to close a cut on his leg. Ovechkin, whose 26th goal had given Washington a 3-2 lead, played only about 1 1/2 minutes in the final period even though his injury was minor.

"It took the doctor so long to get down here (the bench), we couldn't get him back on the ice," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He got a couple of stitches. It is something that you have to get done."

Boudreau doesn't expect Ovechkin to miss any games.

Johnson was hurt as Pittsburgh's Colby Armstrong scored a fluke goal that briefly put the Penguins up 2-1, throwing a no-look backhand pass along the goal-line that deflected off defenceman Milan Jurcina's stick and into the net. Johnson, who was helped off the ice, was replaced by No. 1 goalie Olaf Kolzig, who couldn't hold a 3-2 lead late in the third period.

Johnson, making his 10th start, is 3-4-1 this season.