Blake’s Late Jolt Recalls Knee Injury

During the game, defenseman Rob Blake was not thinking about his season-ending knee injury, which occurred at USAir Arena last season on Oct. 20. At least not until he made a big hit at the blue line with 1:38 remaining.

“It was the exact same play, as soon as I turned around after I hit him, I turned back and saw it was 1:38,” Blake said. “Last year it happened with 1:19 left. I knew it was a year ago.

“But it was all right. I hit him clean. I’ve hit that way my whole life. It only happened wrong once out of 25 years, and I’m not going to play until I’m 50.”

Blake, who had one assist against the Capitals, has five points in five games. He said his timing is coming back, and his vision of the game is improving. The ability to deliver fierce body checks came back first. “I’ve never had a problem hitting,” he said.

New teammate Ray Ferraro had long noticed that.

“As well as being a good player, he’s real mean out there,” Ferraro said. “He’s probably one of the top 10 defensemen in the league. And that’s a pretty elite group he’s in. We’ve said all along if we have a chance to make the playoffs, we need him to play well.”

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Flu continues to make the rounds throughout the team. Center Paul DiPietro is working on regaining his conditioning after a long bout with flu and was scratched from the lineup.

Also sitting out because of flu was right wing Petr Klima. In four games, Klima has two assists and a defensive rating of minus-four. Even equipment manager Peter Millar has been sick.