Evgeny Kuznetsov saves Capitals in physical win over Predators
[ad_1]
Kuznetsov saves Caps in physical win over Predators originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Capitals coughed up a 3-0 lead, but Evgeny Kuznetsov delivered the game-winner late in the third period in a 5-3 victory over the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.
Here are some observations from the game.
A recognizable offense
The Caps defense was missing a bunch of players for this game, but offensively this was very close to a full lineup with only Daniel Sprong (COVID) and Anthony Mantha (upper-body) out. Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie all came out of the league’s COVID protocol for this game and Tom Wilson was activated off of IR. This was the first time all season Washington had its top four centers in a game.
With several play-makers back, Washington wasted little time getting them involved. Lars Eller opened the scoring off of a fantastic passing play. Wilson delivered a nifty pass to Alex Ovechkin who sent it to John Carlson out wide. Carlson was left open and inched his way to the net before hitting Eller on the back door for the goal.
The Caps did about as well as anyone could have hoped before the Christmas break with so many players missing, but these are the type of skill plays they get when their top players all are able to return.
No lead is safe
The Caps were up 3-0 at the end of the first period and Nashville tied it at 3 just 7:38 into the third. In the last game before the break, the Caps led the Los Angeles Kings 2-0, but fell 3-2.
Are there any conclusions to be drawn in games that were played 10 days apart and with almost completely different rosters thanks to players coming in and out of COVID protocol? That’s what head coach Peter Laviolette has to figure out.
Kuznetsov to the rescue
The Caps coughed up a 3-0 lead, they went 0-for-6 on the power play, they lost all momentum over the course of the game, but in the third period when they really needed it, Kuznetsov delivered a shorthanded tally with less than six minutes to go in the…
[ad_2]
Source : yahoo
