This article is over 7 years old

Evgeny Kuznetsov becomes first player to record four assists in a Stanley Cup Final game since Joe Sakic in 1996

by

5 Comments

Share:

Evgeny Kuznetsov did not want to talk about the Conn Smythe Trophy after the Capitals’ 6-2 victory Tuesday night, but the Capitals center has done something very special in this year’s postseason.

The Russian has 31 points in this year’s playoffs, which is the second-most points by a player since 1997. Kuznetsov jumped over the 30-point threshold after tallying four assists against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four.

Video

Kuznetsov’s first assist, a primary helper, came 9:54 into the first period to put the Capitals on the board 1-0. After initially skating the puck up the ice, Kuznetsov dished to Nicklas Backstrom before getting the puck back and firing a shot on net. The rebound bounced to a hard-charging TJ Oshie who finished the play.

Nearly seven minutes later, Kuznetsov authored his second primary assist of the night after brilliantly finding Tom Wilson hanging out in the slot.

Wilson had this to say after the game.

Kuznetsov collected his juicy, delicious, primary-apple number three on a second period power-play goal by John Carlson.

Finally, Kuznetsov collected a secondary assist on Brett Connolly’s power-play goal.

Kuznetsov’s performance was historic and not just because it put the Caps on the precipice of its first ever Stanley Cup.

The four apples tied a franchise playoff record.

Kuznetsov became the twelfth NHL player ever to accomplish the feat in the Stanley Cup Final.

And the first since Joe Sakic in 1996. Sakic went on to win both the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy that year.

Over the last 30 years, Kuznetsov is one of only four players to accomplish the four assist Stanley Cup Final feat. That group includes Wayne Gretzky.

It’s Kuzy’s world right now and we’re all just livin’ in it.

Full Coverage of Game Four

Related Articles

RMNB is not associated with the Washington Capitals; Monumental Sports, the NHLPA, the NHL, or its properties. Not even a little bit.

All original content on russianmachineneverbreaks.com is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International – unless otherwise stated or superseded by another license. You are free to share, copy, and remix this content so long as it is attributed, done for noncommercial purposes, and done so under a license similar to this one.

zamboni logo