The Washington Capitals improved to 6-1-0 on the season with a 7-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night, in no small thanks to the contributions of Russian forward Evgeny Kuznetsov. The 23-year-old scored his first career hat trick last night, accounting for three of his five total points throughout the game.
The first goal was assisted by T.J. Oshie and Alex Ovechkin, the second by John Carlson and Brooks Orpik, and the third by Carlson and Andre Burakovsky. Kuznetsov currently boasts 11 points through seven games on the season, already nearly a third of his total from last season (37) in 73 fewer games. He ranks first on the Capitals in points, and tied for third in goals with Oshie and Jason Chimera (behind Ovechkin and the recently returned Nicklas Backstrom).
While Kuznetsov may have underwhelmed previously in his NHL career, it appears he’s ready to break out as a star in the league, and is a big reason why the Capitals sit atop their division and 2nd overall in the National Hockey League.
Ovechkin "congratulates" Kuznetsov on his hat-trick with a post-game cream pie | VIDEO > https://t.co/radynuYngh pic.twitter.com/6MIeD25Uyn
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 24, 2015
“It’s awesome, he’s playing with a lot of confidence. He makes plays when he has got the puck. He’s grown so much from last year. Everyone is happy to see that,” centerman Nicklas Backstrom said of the young Kuznetsov.
The last Capital to score three goals and five points in a single game was now-Montreal Canadien Alex Semin, November 11th, 2011 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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