The bird is back.
Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the first minute of the rematch of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
The goal gave the Caps a 1-0 lead 58 seconds into the game.
Coming into Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers, the Washington Capitals are the best team in the league and they’re taking this honor very seriously.
During a Very Serious Evgeny Kuznetsov interview, Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom did Kuzy’s signature goal celebration, flapping their wings up and down like a bird.
After serving a three-game suspension, Evgeny Kuznetsov will make his season debut tonight against the Dallas Stars. For me, as a hockey fan, I’m excited because tonight’s game will finally give Kuzy, both the hockey player and the man, a chance to move forward and make amends for his positive cocaine test over the summer.
“Just a chance finally to get out of here from my house,” Kuznetsov joked Monday before turning serious about how difficult the summer has been. “It’s pretty much the same routine every day. Just come here, practice, get back home. If something happens, it’s pretty short.”
As someone who has covered Kuznetsov over the last nine years, I’ve seen a player with unrivaled talent – even as early as his teenage years in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk – dominate. It was easy to predict he’d become a star and one of the most important Capitals players of all time. From his stickhandling and skating to his breakaway speed and shot, Kuzy is and always will be a top-tier hockey player. But what makes this bird so different — what makes him truly a superstar that we all rally around — is his joy for the game. When he doesn’t have it, he scuffles. He seems lost.
“How much do I love hockey? I can’t even describe,” Kuznetsov wrote in a 2015 Players’ Tribune article. “In Russia, we don’t really have a Christmas break, but from December 31 to January 3, everything closed. Even hockey school. These were the worst days of my life. Four days with no hockey, I get so depressed. I can’t even sleep. Just sit watching YouTube of Kovalev and wait.”
Evgeny Kuznetsov is suspended for the first three games of the regular season. He did not join the Washington Capitals on their flight to St. Louis for their season opener so he did the next best thing.
The Russian centerman went to Nationals Park with Designo Motoring’s Abe Hamrah to watch the NL Wild Card Game.
The Nats won in thrilling fashion after Juan Soto drove in three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.
By Ian Oland 2 months ago
Hockey’s best goal celebration (if you ask us) will be appearing in NHL 20.
According to a video from Twitter user @JDaIey, Evgeny Kuznetsov’s bird celebration, which EA Sports’ has nicknamed The Eagle, is in the video game.
Evgeny Kuznetsov had five assists already this series, but he waited until the back half of Game Seven to score a goal of his own.
But, boy howdy, was it a beaut. The bird is back.
Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal was one of many local sports stars who attended the Capitals’ Game One win against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Beal, who has become close friends with Evgeny Kuznetsov, celebrated after the game in the best way.
He did The Bird.
Tuesday night is Evgeny Kuznetsov‘s “Bird Celly” bobblehead night, but we can think of one person who won’t be happy about it.
Don Cherry has been an outspoken critic of “The Birdman” since Kuznetsov started to do his Bird Walk goal celebration. He doubled down on that recently, calling Kuznetsov a “jerk” in the latest episode of Coach’s Corner, prompting a new t-shirt.
Kuznetsov was asked about Cherry’s comments on Tuesday ahead of the Capitals’ game against the bunch of jerks also known as the Carolina Hurricanes.
By Brennin Weiswerda 8 months ago
The image of the Washington Capitals lifting the Stanley Cup on the ice following their historic Game Five win was an enduringly powerful and emotional moment for fans everywhere.
Now, thanks to a new NHL feature on Evgeny Kuznetsov, we have been treated to perhaps the cutest Cup-lift photograph to ever exist.
Meet Ecenia Kuznetsova, Stanley Cup champion.
By Donya Abramo 8 months ago
The Washington Capitals’ social media team asked several players to do Evgeny Kuznetsov’s bird celebration to sell tickets for Tuesday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The team is giving away Evgeny Kuznetsov bobbleheads to all fans in attendance.
I am okay with this because the resulting content is great and it resulted in these GIFs.
