On a night when the Washington Capitals honored the leading Russian goal-scorer in NHL history (Alex Ovechkin), another ravishing Russian stole the show.
Evgeny Kuznetsov was absolutely brilliant on Thursday, generating three points in Washington’s 4-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks.
Two of those plays were works of art, from the goal you an see above to the nice assist featured below.
Heck, the kid’s even capable of providing amusing interviews about cigars and whiskey.
In a way, Kuznetsov is part of the reason this Capitals team is scarier than ever. It’s not just about Alex Ovechkin, as “The Great Eight” can have the occasional off-night.
Naturally, it doesn’t hurt that Braden Holtby may end up being as obvious a 2016 Vezina winner as Carey Price was last season.
Since 2005-06, only 1 goalie has a longer pt streak than @Holts170: Jose Theodore, who set @washcaps record in 2009-10 (20-0-3) @EliasSports
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 15, 2016
.@Holts170 (@washcaps) extended his personal point streak to 22 consecutive decisions dating to Nov. 12 (20-0-2). pic.twitter.com/dNcZM2KtYy
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 15, 2016
This win widens Washington’s gap between themselves and everyone else; as of this writing, the slightly stumbling Stars are seven standings point behind the Caps for the most in the NHL. (Washington has 69 now.)
Really, it seems like the biggest worries of the moment are the sort of things you drum up when you’re enjoying a sporting surplus.
“Are we peaking at the wrong time?”
Those may be the sort of things especially worrisome Washington fans might be batting around, yet most of the worrying takes place on the other end of the ice each night.