050518 | RMNB

Evgeny Kuznetsov on bringing back the bird walk celly: ‘My daughter loves that stuff’

Following the Capitals elimination in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Evgeny Kuznetsov decided to retire his now infamous bird walk celly. The Capitals were 0-2 when Kuznetsov opted to use it during the 2017 postseason — falling 4-3 in overtime in the first round to the Leafs, and 3-2 to the Penguins in round two.

“I was told that we lost every time after I did it,” Kuznetsov said to Sport Express’ Igor Eronko. “It’s an old thing though, started all the way back when I was playing the game console. Nothing new.”

On Saturday, after Kuznetsov scored on a breakaway to tie Game Five 3-3, he brought the celly back out of retirement — and he did it for his daughter.

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Holtby holds strong and then Vrana excels: numbers for the morning after

Thanks to a productive third period, the Caps took a 3-2 series lead over the Pens on Saturday night. Jake Vrana was promoted to and produced on the first line, and Braden Holtby held down the fort as his team got pinned in for extended periods, particularly during the second frame.

The Pens out-shot the Caps 27-26 and out-attempted them 55-44 at five-on-five.

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By Patrick Holden On May 6, 2018 0 Comment

Barry Trotz calls Jake Guentzel’s bodycheck on John Carlson a ‘headshot,’ an ‘unsuspecting, high hit’

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson did not finish his final shift of Game Five, Saturday night.

Carlson absorbed what Barry Trotz termed an “unsuspecting, high hit” from Penguins forward Jake Guentzel.

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By Ian Oland On May 6, 2018 0 Comment

TJ Oshie’s empty-net goal sent Capitals fans into a wild celebration

Jakub Vrana’s third-period goal was euphoric and gave Caps fans hope. Three minutes and seven seconds later, TJ Oshie’s empty-net goal put an emphatic bow on Game Five, suggesting the vanquishing of the Penguins could be on the horizon.

An already lively Capital One Arena crowd went wild celebrating.

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By Ian Oland On May 6, 2018 0 Comment

Tom Wilson signed autographs and took photos with fans while sitting out Game Five due to suspension

Tom Wilson sat out Saturday night, while serving the second game of a three-game suspension. The Caps forward received supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Zach Aston-Reese after Game Three.

During Game Five, Wilson was spotted by NBC Sports cameras sitting in club seats. Wearing a white dress shirt and a slate-colored waistcoat, Wilson sat beside former roommate Andre Burakovsky and sipped out of a Perrier water bottle.

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By Ian Oland On May 6, 2018 0 Comment

Capitals fans chant ‘One More Game,’ light Terrible Towel on fire during Portrait Gallery steps celebration

The Washington Capitals are one win away from vanquishing the Penguins and advancing to the third round for the first time in Alex Ovechkin’s legendary career.

To celebrate Saturday’s Game Five win, Caps fans took a page from visiting Penguins fans’ book. They gathered on the steps of the National Portrait Gallery and chanted Let’s Go Caps and One More Game. They even burned a Terrible Towel.

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By Ian Oland On May 6, 2018 1 Comment

Nicklas Backstrom leaves Game Five with upper-body injury

Saturday night’s Game Five win against the Pittsburgh Penguins put the Washington Capitals one victory away from advancing past the second round for the first time since 1998. The fans at Capital One Arena roared louder than they have in years.

But the Capitals may be in for a rude awakening in the morning. Nicklas Backstrom, the maestro of Washington’s offense, is hurt. He went down the tunnel to the locker room in the third period of Game Five, which the Caps won 6-3, and did not return to the game.

Capitals head coach Barry Trotz disclosed little about the Swedish pivot’s ailment. Trotz termed it an “upper-body” injury and said the team will know more on Sunday.

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By Chris Gordon On May 5, 2018 1 Comment

Jakub Vrana’s thrilling game-winning goal gives Caps 3-2 series lead over Penguins

Saturday night, Barry Trotz finally made the obvious move in the third period of Game Five. Trotz promoted Jakub Vrana to the first line. And the Capitals won because of it.

On the first line’s very first shift in the final frame, Vrana hit Evgeny Kuznetsov wide open for a breakaway goal. That tally tied the game 3-3.

With 4:38 left in the game, Vrana was in the right place at the right time to send Capital One Arena into a frenzy.

Vrana’s goal ended up being the game winner.

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By Ian Oland On May 5, 2018 1 Comment

Jakub Vrana! Caps beat Pens 6-3!

Monday night will be an elimination game for the Pittsburgh Penguins after the Capitals secured an unlikely win in a dramatic, up-and-down Game Five. There’s a hero here, and if you’ve been paying attention, I promise you’re gonna like where this story is going.

Two minutes into the game, Jamie Oleksiak scored on Braden Holtby’s stick side to give the Penguins a lead, but a late-period flurry from new dad John Carlson and past playoff escape goat Brett Connolly gave the Caps a one-goal lead headed into the second period, which is where bad things happened. Sidney Crosby re-tied the game with a tip-in of Phil Kessel’s shot during an early power play, then Patric Hornqvist won a crease fight to give the Penguins the lead after forty minutes.

Less than one minute into the third period, Evgeny Kuznetsov took a pass from Jakub Vrana and turned it into a thrilling breakaway goal. Vrana doubled down to put the Caps in the lead with less than five minutes remaining. TJ Oshie and Lars Eller added empty-netters, and that was it.

Caps beat the Penguins 6-3! Caps lead the series 3-2!

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By Peter Hassett On May 5, 2018 0 Comment