Caps C Fedorov, LW Fleischmann return vs. Jackets

Jan 10, 2009 - 4:25 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Washington Capitals welcomed back two reinforcements on Friday but could not extend their seven-game winning streak.

Veteran center Sergei Fedorov and left wing Tomas Fleischmann both returned to the lineup for the Capitals in their 3-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Fedorov had not played since a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on December 13 due to a lingering ankle injury. He recorded four shots in 15 minutes, 55 seconds of ice time against Columbus.

"It felt fine," Fedorov said. "It felt like I hadn't played for a while. Tried to keep my shifts pretty short. Overall, I thought I kept up with the pace of the game. I could've improved on the faceoffs, but first thing's first. It work out OK. I didn't get injured again."

The 39-year-old Russian has collected four goals and eight assists in 16 contests this season.

A six-time All-Star and former Hart Trophy winner, Fedorov has notched 476 goals and 692 assists in 1,212 career games with the Capitals, Blue Jackets, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Detroit Red Wings, with whom he won the Stanley Cup championship in 1997, 1998 and 2002.

Fleischmann, who missed the previous six games with pneumonia, registered two shots in 16:25 of action. He has recorded 12 goals and seven assists in 33 games this season.

The 24-year-old Czech, who was a second-round pick of Detroit in 2002, has registered 26 tallies and 59 points in 151 career games during his four-year career with Washington.

Defenseman Jeff Schultz, however, was out of the lineup Friday due to a finger injury.

Drafted 27th overall in 2004, the 22-year-old native of Calgary has notched seven assists and eight penalty minutes in 26 games this campaign. The 6-6, 221-pound Schultz has collected five goals, 28 points and 52 penalty minutes in 136 career contests with the Capitals.