Washington Capitals goaltender Rick Tabaracci is so injury-pronethat he's now getting hurt even when the club is trying to treat aninjury.
Tabaracci hasn't played this season because he fractured the tipof his right pinkie last week in practice. The finger swelled, so hecouldn't properly hold his stick. On Friday night, said Tabaracci, heasked the club to 'freeze' his finger so he could test it.
Richard Grossman, one of the Capitals' doctors, injected Tabaracciwith 'three needles of Xylocaine,' a local anesthetic, the goaltendersaid yesterday. 'I had an allergic reaction. It numbed the finger butthe hand also swelled.'
The goaltender said he should be ready by Thursday if the Capitalswant to use him that night against the Buffalo Sabres at USAir Arena.
The Capitals have seen bits and pieces of what Tabaracci can do,but haven't been able to get a long look since they acquired him fromthe Winnipeg Jets late in the 1992-93 season.
In 1993-94, he missed 28 games with three separate knee injuries.In training camp in September, he injured his groin and fell intothird place in the goaltending chase with Olaf Kolzig and DonBeaupre.
Beaupre was traded two weeks ago, leaving Tabaracci and Kolzig toshare the responsibilities. So far, though, only Kolzig has played.He has done well, despite the Capitals' 1-3-1 record afteryesterday's 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. GettingDefensive
The Penguins have always been known for their offense, and stillare, even though superstar Mario Lemieux is sitting out the season torecover from a variety of health problems.
But this season they've given up only nine goals in five games,and have been outstanding killing penalties. They entered yesterday'sgame fourth-best in the National Hockey League, having allowing onlytwo goals in 20 shorthanded situations. Against the Capitals, thePenguins killed 7 of 8 penalties. . . .
Jaromir Jagr's goal for Pittsburgh was his fifth, tying him forthe league lead with Detroit's Ray Sheppard. . . .
As usual, it was hard to tell which team yesterday's crowd of15,873 was rooting for more. 'They've always had a good crowd here.We know that,' said Penguins veteran Kevin Stevens, who scored thegame's first goal. There are always 'a lot of Pittsburgh fans here.We like playing here. It's fun.' . . .
The Capitals and Penguins now are tied in their all-time series.Pittsburgh's victory evened the series at 59-59-12. . . . TheCapitals are in the midst of their longest homestand of the season,four games. . . . Capitals center Dave Poulin played in his 700th NHLgame yesterday. . . . Right wing Kelly Miller played in his 251stconsecutive game. . . . Defenseman Calle Johansson is two points shyof 300 for his career.
