Vokoun, Legwand both out with knee injuries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? Predators goaltender Tomas Vokoun will be out one to two weeks with a knee strain and center David Legwand will miss four weeks because of torn cartilage in his knee, the team said Friday.

Both were hurt Thursday night in a 5-1 loss to the New York Rangers, and had MRI exams Friday. Legwand will have surgery Monday.

Vokoun said he was stopping a shot by Rangers defenseman Darius Kasparaitis when his leg was caught and twisted at the net at 12:15 of the first. He felt pain but stayed in the game before eventually giving way to backup Chris Mason.

It was Vokoun’s 300th game with the Predators, and he came in having won eight of his last 10 decisions and tied with Ottawa’s Dominik Hasek for most victories with 15.

Legwand hurt his left knee in the second period and had to be helped off the ice.

He was the Predators’ first draft choice and the first top pick to play for the expansion franchise. He scored 47 points for Nashville during the 2003-04 season, and has 13 points this season.

Legwand scored the NHL’s first overtime penalty-shot goal against the Rangers on Dec. 23, 2000.

Meanwhile, the Predators recalled forward Kris Beech and goaltender Brian Finley from the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League to fill the roster spots. Beech leads Milwaukee in scoring with 22 points; Finley is 6-1-0 with a 1.99 goals against average.