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Evgeny Kuznetsov becomes first Capital ever to tally 10 assists in first five games of a season

The Capitals’ second line has started the season on fire. While Alex Ovechkin has garnered much praise and publicity thus far, flying under the radar is Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov, while he hasn’t scored a goal, has tallied 10 assists this season, including games with three and four helpers. Oh yeah, and he’s done that in only five games.

Kuznetsov is the first Capitals player to start a season this way. Ever.

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By Brendan Doyle 5 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin has more goals than seven other NHL teams

Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin scored his ninth goal of the season during the Capitals 5-2 beatdown of the New Jersey Devils.

Ovechkin now leads the league in goals by four, but there’s another stat that puts in perspective just how dominant the Russian machine has been so far this season.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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Blake Coleman’s face turned into mashed potatoes after fighting Tom Wilson

Fighting Tom Wilson is never a good idea and Blake Coleman learned this lesson the hard way.

Early in the third period, Coleman fought Andre Burakovsky, after knocking Dmitry Orlov awkwardly into the boards. Coleman must have felt cocky after pushing the Swedish cinnamon roll around so nearly ten minutes later, he engaged heavyweight enforcer Tom Wilson. He instantly regretted it.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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‘Tough guy’ Andre Burakovsky sticks up for Dmitry Orlov, gets in first career NHL fight

2:33 into a wild third period, Swedish forward Andre Burakovsky got in his first career NHL fight against Devils forward Blake Coleman. Young Dre dropped his mitts after teammate Dmitry Orlov was pushed off balance by the Devils pest and slammed feet-first into the boards.

Before we go any further: Yes, you read that right. The former teen shampoo model did his best Tom Wilson impersonation, throwing hands with a gritty opposing player.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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Nicklas Backstrom scores a goal, sets up TJ Oshie twice for four-point game

On a night in which it wasn’t even clear if he was going to play, Nicklas Backstrom dominated. The Swedish center showed off his uncanny playmaking ability, as well as scoring a goal himself.

On the first goal of the game, Backstrom stole the puck forechecking off a draw. On a quick 2-on-1, Backstrom hit T.J. Oshie, who went bar-down past Cory Schneider.

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By Brendan Doyle 5 years ago

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Rout in Newark: Caps beat Devils 5-2

The Capitals were at the Prudential Center to play the New Jersey Devils and their new spaceship sized video board on Friday night. The team needed a good response in Newark after putting up a couple poor showings against Tampa and Pittsburgh. They got just that.

TJ Oshie broke the early deadlock with a top-shelf bullet after Nicklas Backstrom made a great defensive play and fed Oshie in the slot. 1-0 good guys after 20 minutes.

Alex Ovechkin made it 2-0 from his office on the power play before Taylor Hall drew the Devils within one on their own power play. Jakub Vrana responded almost immediately with a deflection goal, his first of the season.

Kyle Palmieri led off the third period with a breakaway strike, but Oshie restored the two goal lead on a double minor power play. Backstrom then again got involved scoring with his skate after an Ovechkin slap pass.

Caps beat Devils 5-2!

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By Chris Cerullo 5 years ago

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Matt Niskanen leaves game in second period after suffering upper-body injury

If there’s one thing the Capitals can’t afford this season is an injury to one of their veteran defensemen. After losing Karl Alzner, Nate Schmidt, and Kevin Shattenkirk over the offseason, the Capitals are paper thin at defense.

Late in the second period, that worst case scenario played out when Matt Niskanen, arguably the team’s best defenseman, was forced to leave the game after an apparent hand injury.

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin remains on fire, now has 9 goals in 5 games

Alex Ovechkin started the season with consecutive hat tricks, notching seven goals in two games. Three games later, Ovechkin’s still scoring.

After failing to light the lamp against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ovechkin has goals in two straight games. Ovechkin’s nine goals puts him in first place league wide by four goals over Brandon Saad (5).

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By Ian Oland 5 years ago

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Caps at Devils pregame: Double returns

It’s Friday the 13th, the DC baseball team suffered a crushing defeat on Thursday, and it’s an overcast day in the DC/Baltimore area. But fret not, friends as we’ve got hockey tonight to cure anything that may be ailing you.

Tom Wilson returns to the lineup for the Caps and Marcus Johansson will face his former team for the first time in the regular season. The former needs to stay out of trouble and do his best to help stabilize a third line and penalty kill unit that’s been bleeding shots against so far this season (he writes, not optimistically). We hope the latter has a wonderful season, but if he can stay off the score sheet tonight, that’d be great. Miss you, Mojo.

Young Chris Cerullo has the recap duties tonight so expect a lot of tweets about avocado toast and hotel room closets from one of my favorite millennials.

NBC Washington has your TV coverage for the 7 PM game.

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By Patrick Holden 5 years ago

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