After a brutal first period, the Capitals finally showed signs of life with Evgeny Kuznetsov’s beautiful snipe on the power play.
If a bird celly won’t get this team playing better, nothing will.
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DO THE BIRD KUZY! pic.twitter.com/7I2aaNS7vv
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 16, 2020
TJ Oshie drew a slash early in the second period, and the PP went to work. With Alex Ovechkin well-marked in his spot, Kuznetsov had to make the play happen solo. He moved from the half wall to the circles and loosed a perfect wristshot, beating New York goalie Semyon Varlamov on the short side.
Instinctually, Kuznetsov gave the bird celebration.
The Kuzy bird is back 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Ey81Ym4GRu
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 16, 2020
Kuzy was given room to score after the New York Islanders chose to play man-to-man on Alex Ovechkin in his office.
Alex Ovechkin chirps Leo Komarov after Kuzy's goal. Komarov blanketed Ovi during the PP. pic.twitter.com/VP9XhpmIIa
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 16, 2020
Tom Wilson also provided a perfect screen in front of Semyon Varlamov so Kuzy could hit the top corner of the net short-side.
Kuzy’s strike comes after the forward struggled mightily in the first period.
Evgeny Kuznetsov: 5:18 5v5 TOI, 0/-8 CF, 0/-7 shots, 0/-1 goals, 0/-6 SCF, 0/-5 HDCF
— Chris Cerullo (@CJC_95) August 16, 2020
The goal marked Kuznetsov’s second goal of the 2020 playoffs – both have come on the power play. Kuzy now ranks fourth in career playoff goals and fifth in playoff points in Capitals’ franchise history.
Evgeny Kuznetsov ties the game at 1-1 with a power play goal his 26th career playoff goal. He has passed Dale Hunter (25) for the fourth most playoff goals in franchise history.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) August 16, 2020
With the goal, Kuznetsov has tied Mike Ridley (60) for the fifth most playoff points in franchise history.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) August 16, 2020
Full RMNB Coverage of WSH/NYI Game Three
Screenshot courtesy of NBC Sports Washington
