Photo: Alex Brandon
10:45 AM Update: 12 hours later, the NHL has finally credited Kuznetsov with the goal.
SCORING CHANGE: The #Caps overtime goal in last night's game against the New Jersey Devils has been credited to Evgeny Kuznetsov.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) March 27, 2015
Original Post: (Before you read this, know that the NHL is still crediting Matt Niskanen with the OTGWG, which is incorrect.)
If you ever wanted to understand how far Evgeny Kuznetsov has come as a hockey player, his game-winning goal against the Devils– and the seconds before that– are all you need to see.
After taking a long stretch pass from Alex Ovechkin in overtime, Kuzy put on a forechecking clinic. He shielded the puck away from 6’4″, 205-pound defenseman Jon Merrill. As he emerged from the corner, he nearly connected with Marcus Johansson streaking to the net for the game-winning tally.
Instead the puck popped out to the point. Matt Niskanen fired the Niscannon. Kuzy, set up in front of the crease, deflected the puck past Cory Schneider.
For a guy who scored almost all of his KHL goals on breakaways and wrist shots from the slot, this is an impressive transformation.
To celebrate, this happened.
I guess Troy Brouwer is putting some pepper on Kuzy because he’s sizzling. He’s The Sizzler!
