Islanders' Yashin leaves game with bruised knee

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Alexei Yashin bruised his right knee and left the ice in the closing minutes of the New York Islanders' 4-1 victory over Washington on Saturday night after colliding with Capitals forward Matt Bradley.

Yashin had just taken a shot inside the Washington zone when Bradley ran into him, knee-on-knee. Yashin stayed down for a few moments before dragging himself to the bench with about 6:45 left.

After getting his skates over the step by the bench door, he dropped back down to his knees before working his way up and taking a seat. He remained there until the final buzzer, when he got back on the ice to celebrate with goalie Rick DiPietro and the rest of his teammates.

The Islanders' captain, who assisted on both goals by Jason Blake, will have an MRI taken on Monday. New York doesn't play again until Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

"Hopefully, there is nothing too serious going on with Yash and we can keep them together and going," DiPietro said of Yashin and Blake.

Yashin, New York's leader with 28 points, extended his point streak to five games. He also has seven goals and 10 assists in his last 13 games in what is, so far, the most productive of his four seasons with the Islanders.

He declined to speak to reporters after the game.

"He's a tough guy, a tough competitor," Blake said. "Hopefully it's nothing to worry about."

Yashin has been a key factor in Blake's fine play, too. The 5-foot-10 Blake scored a career-high 28 goals last season, but already has a team-leading 14 goals through 22 games.

"He's getting me the puck, which is good," Blake said. "Ever since we've been joined, things have been going good."

Yashin has 10 goals and 18 assists this season and hasn't missed a game.