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Posted at 10:59 AM ET October 10, 2018 |
Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov celebrates his goal against the Golden Knights of Vegas.(Photo: Nick Wass, AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) – Evgeny Kuznetsov is dancing with the puck and is delighted with his entry into the net, as in June.
Kuznetsov continued his magic against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday night, scoring a goal and helping three more as part of a 5-2 Washington Capitals win in a rematch of the Stanley Cup final season last.
Kuznetsov scored two goals from Alex Ovechkin and one from Nicklas Backstrom and scored his on the power play. Top scorer in the Cup final with eight points in five games, Kuznetsov has seven points in the first three games of the reigning champions of the regular season.
"If you play with the right players, you will still get points," Kuznetsov said after one of the best matches of his career. "You just have to have fun every night, if you do not have fun and you do not want to have fun, you do not want to play hockey, you should be retired, but you can see that we always have fun. "
The Capitals have a lot of fun with the Stanley franchise banner in the rafters and almost the same team. More importantly perhaps, they still have Kuznetsov and Ovechkin, whose sublime chemistry from the playoffs has again been featured against the Golden Knights.
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"He knows when to pass, he knows when to shoot," said Ovechkin, who scored four goals in three games. "Sometimes he tries to make crazy passes, you think," What is he doing? "But he has his own mind … you just have to be ready at all times."
The 610th and 611th goals of Ovechkin's career brought him into 17th place on the NHL Career List, surpassing Bobby Hull. Kuznetsov pointed out that Ovechkin was spending every 10 games or so and joked: "It's a free meal for me."
Braden Holtby, who made "save" with his stick in the second game of the final, stopped 29 of 31 shots and saved his teammates during a particularly sloppy second period. Holtby allowed goals for Cody Eakin in the second period and Reilly Smith for third.
"We have played enough against them to know that they will arrive at some point," said Holtby. "You have to keep your cool and not be frustrated.You need two big games, whether it's to block or save, or to get the puck out by guys."
Vegas goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury, who wanted to start the game instead of facing his former team in Pittsburgh on Thursday night, allowed four goals on 28 shots.
"I think a few mistakes here, including myself and the guys from our defensive zone, maybe," said Fleury. "But if we clean that, we'll be in good shape."
His teammates hit the post a handful of times and went from 0 to 3 on the power play and from 0 to 11 until now this season. The Golden Knights fell to 1-3-0 at the start of their second season of the year after starting 8-2-0.
"It's been a long year and we need to find a quick fix," said Vegas defender Shea Theodore. "We absolutely have to find solutions and find our game."
Notes: T.J. Oshie sealed the Capitals victory with an empty net goal with 1:55 left, causing "back-to-back" slogans. Washington D Brooks Orpik came back early in the second period after taking a big hit from William Carrier and landing awkwardly in the first. Vegas C Paul Stastny will miss at least the next two games due to a lower body injury. Coach Gerard Gallant said Stastny would be reevaluated when the team returns home this weekend after this road trip. Washington D Michal Kempny made his debut in the season after missing the first two games due to an alleged concussion. … F Dmitrij Jaskin made his Capitals debut after claiming it out of the St. Louis waivers.
FOLLOWING
Golden Knights: Continue their trip to the Eastern Conference with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.
US Capitals: Pheonix Copley should make his first start of the season to the New Jersey Devils Thursday night.
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