It’s been a tough year for Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov.
After scoring 77 points in 82 games last season, Kuznetsov has picked up 18 points in 34 games in 2016-17.
On Thursday, it was a brutal play in his own end that ticked off head coach Barry Trotz.
After winning a faceoff in the Capitals’ zone, Kuznetsov retrieved the puck and made a no-look, backhand pass up the middle. P.A. Parenteau intercepted the puck and buried the game’s first goal.
You can see how the play unfolded by clicking the video at the top of the page.
The Capitals ended up losing 2-1 in a shootout, which made the Parenteau goal that much more important.
As you can imagine, Trotz wasn’t impressed with Kuznetsov’s decision making on the play, and he let everyone know it after the game.
“I just thought that was very careless,” Trotz said, per CSN Mid-Atlantic. “We’re in our zone, we win the faceoff and you’re going to throw a little blind pass? Secure the puck and live to fight another day.
“I was really upset with that pass because it was unnecessary, I felt.”