Evgeny Kuznetsov now has nine points in his last four games after another sensational game against the Arizona Coyotes.
Kuznetsov scored twice on Coyotes goaltender Antti Raanta and helped lead a Capitals comeback after Washington fell behind 3-0.
“It’s perfect time to improve,” Kuznetsov said. “You cannot be perfect every time so sometimes we have to go through these types of games, but I like the way we respond in the third.”
In the final minutes, the Russian center was on the doorstep to score a game-tying, hat-trick goal but instead TJ Oshie got his stick on the puck first.
Bummer. Hats flew anyway.
Goal 1
Kuznetsov’s first goal of the night came on a breakaway. Jakub Vrana tossed a slick pass which Kuzy deflected from skate to stick in stride.
Jensen saves a goal & Kuzy scores a goal 💪 pic.twitter.com/9G8p7rkGh5
— NBC Sports Capitals (@NBCSCapitals) November 12, 2019
As he raced in on Raanta, Kuzy deked before the sliding the puck through the goaltender’s five-hole.
Goal 2
Kuzy’s second came in the third period. After winning a faceoff, the All-Star skated hard to the net. Michal Kempny’s point shot went well wide, but the puck deflected off the boards right back out to Kuzy who scored at an impossible angle on his backhand.
Evgeny Kuznetsov has his second of the night. What a backhand. pic.twitter.com/xcqEtiM3Gz
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 12, 2019
Oshie’s GTG
Finally, with 1:16 left in the third period, TJ Oshie completed the comeback and scored on a rebound after Alex Ovechkin rifled a one-timer from his office. From far away, it appeared Kuznetsov scored as he swung his stick at the puck too.
TJ Oshie's game-tying goal pic.twitter.com/OTC3rwy54h
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 12, 2019
Some fans, confused, threw hats to celebrate the hat trick for naught.
Smh we all for sure thought it was Kuzy pic.twitter.com/4FbusqWyL5
— Brandon (@bmilluhhhh) November 12, 2019
When he returned to the Capitals bench, Kuznetsov laughed and shook his head towards Oshie as if to say I was so close.
Capitals fans threw hats on the ice to celebrate an Evgeny Kuznetsov hat trick, but it was TJ Oshie who scored. Here's Kuzy's reaction on the Capitals bench. pic.twitter.com/rjoTYBdXqJ
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) November 12, 2019
“Right after I put it in kind of regretting that he didn’t grab it first,” Oshie said after the game. “You can’t pass those ones up especially when you’re down a goal. I wish it would have bounced a little closer to him so he could have gotten the hat trick but still happy to put one in there – it’s been a couple of games.”
Oshie had lots of kind words for Kuzy.
“There was one line that was doing a lot of skating – one guy mostly – and that was Kuzy and you saw how much success he had,” Oshie said. “He is obviously on a different level than the rest of us. Lot of success out of him because he was moving his legs and skating – that whole line was. They carried us tonight and got us back into it.”
There was one player in particular that Oshie was blown away by. Earlier in the game, Kuzy weaved through the Coyotes’ defense, nearly scoring an impossible goal through his legs.
“Once he gets one of those rushes where he weaves through people, you know it’s going to be one of those nights,” Oshie said. “I think you can tell when he has one shift like that you know he’s feeling it. He’s going to be able to control the game which he did most of the night. It’s always fun when he’s in those modes to get a front-row seat on the bench and watch. He carried us tonight for sure.”
Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet was more concise. “Kuznetsov, oh my God was he good tonight.”
Full RMNB Coverage of Caps vs Coyotes
Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington
