Isles lose top scorer Yashin (knee sprain) up to 4 weeks

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Alexei Yashin will be out at least two weeks with a sprained right knee, and the New York Islanders' leading scorer could miss a month.

Yashin, who has 10 goals and 18 assists in 22 games this season, was injured late in Saturday night's 4-1 victory over Washington when he smacked legs with Capitals forward Matt Bradley.

"It's a big loss, no doubt, especially with Yash playing so well," Islanders coach Ted Nolan said Monday. "It's up to everyone else to step up their games and take advantage of the opportunities they're provided."

Yashin had just taken a shot inside the Capitals' zone when Bradley ran into him, knee-on-knee. He 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, the Islanders' captain 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 original diagnosis following the game was a bruised knee, but an MRI on Monday morning revealed the sprain.

To replace Yashin on the roster, the Islanders recalled forward Eric Boguniecki from Bridgeport of the AHL. Boguniecki, acquired last month from the Columbus Blue Jackets, had three goals and five assists in 12 games with Bridgeport. In 167 NHL games with Florida, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Boguniecki has 32 goals and 44 assists.