Tonight we dance.

Also tonight, we witnessed the emergence of Evgeny Kuznetsov as a Caps playoff legend. Scoring two in a thrilling home-ice win over the Islanders, Kuznetsov is all you’ll talk about on Friday. If someone tries to talk about something else, then you’re done talking to that person.

The Caps surrendered the game’s first goal to Josh Bailey, but don’t worry– the rest of this recap is gonna be a blast.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, the goddamn hero, batted a puck out of mid-air to tie the game, and then Karl Alzner (no seriously) stormed the net to give the Caps the lead after forty. The Caps blew a power play early in the third, but Brooks Laich grabbed a loose puck soon after to make it 3-1.

The flood gates.

In the third, Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his second of the night on a breakaway, and then Jason Chimera got a dribbler into the Isles net. And with that, at long last, the Capitals had chased Jaroslav Halak from the net in a playoff game.

Caps beat Islanders 5-1. Caps lead the series 3-2.

Let the rhythm take you over!

• Anders Lee has two career NHL fights They’re both against Tom Wilson, who simply HAD to pay for the clean hit on a player who might’ve already been playing with a concussion. Here’s a link to the fight video.
• Evgeny Kuznetsov is a revelation. The best player on the ice, Evgeny scored two goals that we like to call “goal-scorer’s goals” because we’re redundant as hell in hockey. First was the swat out of mid-air. Second was the effortless (looking) semi-breakaway– the go-ahead goal and the back-breaker. Druce-y.
• Josh Bailey‘s goal should not have counted. John Tavares covered the puck with his hand immediately before, but the refs missed it. It was one of many missed calls that would have and should have gone in the Caps favor. Some were subtle, some were egregious. Just a generally poorly called game by Rooney and L’Ecuyer. The Caps didn’t need their help to win anyway.
• Once the Caps got a power play (earned by Alex Ovechkin at the close of the second), they did little with it. Zero shots and one particularly painful whiff by Matt Niskanen, but Brooks Laich kept the pressure on after time expired to get his goal.
• Losing big for the first time this series, the Isles lost their composure. That vaunted “we play by the rules” line was exposed as the fraud we all knew it was. First, Cal Clutterbuck slashed Tim Gleason, trying to fell those tree trunks Glease has for legs. Then Matt Martin got ejected for acting out on the emotional pain of realizing he is inferior to Tom Wilson. Basically, hypocrites gotta hypocrite.
• Jaroslav Halak has haunted the Capitals and Capitals fans for exactly five years. His disappointing stint in DC did little to salve the wound. The only cure was this game. It was Brooks Laich getting a quick shot from the slot and Jason Chimera getting a lucky bounce and Karl Alzner playing freaking offense. It was Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is jokes as hell. RIP Jaro.
• If you’re wondering, here’s the RMNB/Neuvirth story. I just don’t like the guy.

Joe B suit of the night

Secondary scoring, hoooooooo! That was one of the most enjoyable Caps games we’ve seen in years. It was definitely the most pleasant, non-pukey Caps playoff game I’ve seen since maybe 2011 or 2012.

We watched the once-haughty Islanders come down to earth and act like pricks. We watched the Caps take the high road and the series lead in a single move. For the first time, there’s daylight between these teams. Thank you, Kuzy!

We got ’em on the ropes. Finish the fight on Saturday.

Full RMNB Coverage of Game Five