Kuznetsov did not score for 202 days
The poster for this match in Washington was incredible: “Alexander Ovechkin against Connor McDavid”.
But the game benefited Capitals center Yevgeny Kuznetsov, who scored 4 (2+2) points and was recognized as the game’s first star.
Incidentally, Kuzya scored his first goal since May 9, when he scored in a series with Florida (2-4). And if we count the regular season, then the last time Eugeny scored on April 20 in Las Vegas. Since then, 202 days have passed. And now Kuznetsov scored 2 + 2, which is symbolic.
In general, Washington has a lot of wounded. Tom Wilson, Niklas Backstrom, TJ Oshi, John Carlson… And Dmitry Orlov also missed the match. The Capitals roster was made up of half of the Hershey farm club. And Edmonton came out against the hosts, for whom Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evander Kane and other stars played.
However, Washington took a 2-0 lead when Dylan Strome scored a brace. First he took the puck from someone else’s area and scored, then in the majority he received a brilliant pass from Kuznetsov, when all that remained was to close the corner of the goal.
106 steps to Gretzky’s record
McDavid scored in the 29th minute and his goal was brilliant, as is often the case. The man simply received the puck below the blue line and Connor dribbled to the net, beating everyone in his path. Incidentally, McD played his 500th game of his NHL career. In them, he scored 724 (252+472) points and has now extended his scoring streak to seven games (8+9). In the list of the best scorers of the NHL, he occupies the first place (27).
But already four minutes later, when Washington was in the majority, Strome returned the same coin to Kuznetsov when he gave it to the far post, and Zhenya scored in an empty corner of the goal.
“I think he’s gaining momentum. He had speed and was great on the ground,” Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette said of Kuznetsov. moved the puck.”
“Edmonton” did not give up and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins reduced the gap to a minimum score (2-3). But then the “comrade Mauser” had already spoken his word – Alexander Ovechkin in the majority got the puck in the left face-off circle, and the rest was a matter of technique.
Thus, Ovechkin scored his 788th career goal. He is 13 goals behind Gordie Howe (801) and 106 goals behind Wayne Gretzky (894) on the all-time list of all-time NHL leading scorers.
Incidentally, Edmonton goaltender Stuart Skinner became the 163rd goaltender Ovi has scored against during his NHL career. Here is another record. Because only Jaromir Jagr (178), Patrick Marleau (177) and Mark Messier (164) have upset more goalkeepers. Who is the next goalkeeper? Raise your hand ! Or rather, even lower the trap.
Kuznetsov: “Tomorrow morning will be better than today”
In the third period, passions boiled again. Leon Draisaitl on the patch dealt competently with keeper Charlie Lindgren. But at the very end of the game, already in the 59th minute, Ovechkin broke through on the right flank and gave a brilliant round pass between the opponent’s legs as Kuznetsov approached, who mostly scored the winning goal.
It was wonderful !
I must say that Ovechkin scored 1423 points for his NHL career. Exactly the same, by the way, for his eternal rival Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh. Ovi is the 18th all-time leading scorer in league history. The next position, held by Brian Trottier (1425), is just a stone’s throw away.
Well, transfers can be counted – according to them, Ovechkin, by the way, ranks 77th in league history (635), now ahead of Brad Richards and Neil Broten (634 each). 20 more assists and Ovi could skyrocket to 66th in the NHL. Here is a born sniper for you!
“Tomorrow morning will probably be better than the last eight days,” Kuznetsov said. “I felt like we’ve been playing well lately. But not enough to win. This victory will give us breath, we can catch our breath a little. And the coaches will finally be able to show us positive things, because it’s very important when you come to train the next morning.
“We haven’t had a lot of practice time in the last 10 days so we’re putting everything together through videos and meetings and stuff like that. But today our guys were really good. “, added Laviolette speaking of the power play. Imagine, “Washington” made four out of five attempts!
Ovechkin, meanwhile, has a six-game streak (5+2). These days it’s so hot that it looks like the number “800” has already decided to knock itself out in 2022.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
