Pretty amazing story coming out of DC tonight: With Jose Theodore out with a hip flexor, the Washington Capitals are turning to Web site producer Brett Leonhardt as their emergency backup goalie tonight for Brent Johnson against the Ottawa Senators.
Brett, who at 6-7 is aptly nicknamed "Stretch" around the Capitals staff, is scheduled to take warm-ups and will be on the bench for the start of the game. Simeon Varlamov, one of the Capitals' top goaltending prospects, is expected in town tonight and could relieve Leonhardt of backup duties during the first intermission.
Something important to consider: Johnson is battling a nagging hip problem, and almost left the team's last game against Boston.
Leonhardt is a former Div. III goalie with Neumann College Knights, and Tarik El-Bashir of the Washington Post reports the Caps had to get the NHL's permission for this to happen and that Brett signed an amateur tryout contract to make this happen.
The Caps tell us Leonhardt's going to wear No. 80. Go win those bar bets, DC fans.
