Caps’ Oleksy fights to get off ice with broken skate (VIDEO)

Pity the poor NHL players who have to wear so much equipment during a game — especially those danged ice skates.

Now watch as Washington Capitals defenseman Steve Oleksy loses the blade of one skate on Monday and has to helplessly —and comically — slip, stumble and crawl to the bench without any help from the referees or his teammates while the puck was still in play.

Oops. Check that. A ref did actually give Oleksy a helping hand.