Monday night, Evgeny Kuznetsov continued his recent strong play. The 22-year-old Russian scored his eighth goal of the season in the third period and scored the game-deciding tally in the shootout.

His regulation goal was amazing.

As Kuznetsov carried the puck into the offensive zone, Joel Ward and Curtis Glencross skated hard towards the net, pushing a passive Sabres defense backwards. Kuzy took advantage of this and skated to the center of the ice, where he unleashed a nasty wrist shot through Glencross’s legs and past a helpless Anders Lindback.

Of course the Russians have to hug.

In the shootout, Kuznetsov used his patience again to bury a forehand shot low and blocker-side past Lindback.

It would stand up as the game-winning shootout goal.

Over the last four games, Kuznetsov has been fantastic. He has taken 17 shots. That’s more shots than he had in all of February (15 shots in 14 games). More goals could come in bunches if he keeps this up.

“It’s all Ovi yell at me everyday,” Kuznetsov said after the game. “He tell me if I wanna score I have to shoot some. I wanna score here [at the NHL level].”

“Sometimes I wait too much. NHL hockey so quick.”

Not tonight.

Honest Abe Evgeny Kuznetsov who can now say he knows some American history pic.twitter.com/3epsU2OQE4

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 17, 2015

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Sabres