Written by Daniel F. Epstein
Friday, 13 November 2009

Chris Clark scored during the shoot out to give the Capitals a 5-4 victory over the visiting New York Islander during a NHL game at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC on Wednesday, November 11, 2009. Alan P. Santos/DC Sports Box file photoWASHINGTON, D.C. – It seems like the Washington Capitals play the New York Islanders every other game recently. All the games have been competitive and Wednesday Night was no different. The Islanders took Washington all the way to a shootout but Chris Clark ended the game with a goal to give the Caps a 5-4 victory.


The injury situation for the Capitals

Caps' captain done dealing with injuries

By Corey Masisak (Contact)

Chris Clark is probably looking forward to the second round of interviews with the media this training camp.

For the better part of two years, Clark has had to answer questions during almost every inquiry about his physical health because of a string of injuries and questions about his mental health trying to deal with the frustration.

After confirming he is starting the 2009-10 season with a clean bill of health and recanting the misery of the past two years, Clark's next round of questioning likely will focus on other topics.

"I'd like to be able to talk about

Even Bruce Boudreau was a bit surprised, but Washington captain Chris Clark, who has been out since late January with a wrist injury that required surgery, was cleared to play Tuesday after telling the Washington Post that he's probably two weeks away.

Clark, who sat out most of last season with a groin injury, won't play in Game 1 Wednesday night (7 p.m. ET, TSN), but the right wing said he could possibly be inserted into the lineup Saturday if Boudreau decides a change is in order.

"I assume, yeah, because I have the clearance and I'm in shape," Clark said about playing in Game 2 Saturday afternoon (1 p.m., NBC). "It's not like I'm just jumping on the ice now. I've