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Evgeny Kuznetsov scores late goal to give Capitals thrilling win against Kings Evgeny Kuznetsov scores late goal to give Capitals thrilling win against Kings
(about 2 hours later)
This mid-February game between the Washington Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings was dubbed a potential Stanley Cup finals preview, and the way it unfolded Tuesday night did little to dispel the anticipation of that possibility. With less than six minutes left in the third period, the “Unleash the Fury” segment played at Verizon Center and fans gave a standing ovation. Playoff hockey came early. This mid-February game between the Washington Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings was dubbed a potential Stanley Cup finals preview, and the way it unfolded Tuesday night did little to dispel such anticipation. At least some semblance of playoff hockey came early to Verizon Center.
Minutes later, Justin Williams corralled a rebound and passed it behind the net to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who banked it in off the opposite post to give the Capitals their first lead with 2 minutes 2 seconds left in the game. Kuznetsov’s goal would hold as the game-winner in a 3-1 Capitals win over the Kings. Jason Chimera added an empty-net goal in what had been a thrillingly close game. Maybe the postseason atmosphere put Justin Williams at ease; he is nicknamed “Mr. Game 7” for his heroics in those playoff situations. This may have been the regular season, but playing against his former team meant more to him.
[For Williams, playing old team isn’t ‘just another game’]
In a tie game late in the third period, Williams corralled a rebound and passed it from behind the net to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who banked it in off the opposite post to give the Capitals their first lead with 2 minutes 2 seconds left. Kuznetsov raised his hand and spun his finger to mimic a red goal light. His goal would hold as the game-winner in a 3-1 win over the Kings. Jason Chimera added an empty-net goal in the last minute.
“I love tight-checking games,” Williams said. “I love when both teams are competing at a high level. I love when we win.”
The Capitals have often saved their best hockey for the third period, and they outshot the Kings 7-1 in the first 11 minutes after the second intermission Tuesday. That they were in a position to be tied in the third was a credit to backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who finished with 39 saves.The Capitals have often saved their best hockey for the third period, and they outshot the Kings 7-1 in the first 11 minutes after the second intermission Tuesday. That they were in a position to be tied in the third was a credit to backup goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who finished with 39 saves.
Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said he had seen a decline in the team’s sharpness recently. Washington wasn’t as crisp in practice, and some execution in recent games had been poor. That carried over into the start Tuesday night. With 2:28 left in the game, Grubauer stopped a breakaway chance by Anze Kopitar, who had already scored a shorthanded goal in the first period. Washington got the rebound and barreled up the ice. Andre Burakovsky’s first shot was saved, but with four red jerseys in front of the net, Williams got the rebound and fed Kuznetsov.
With the second period about to expire, Washington was lucky to be down by just one goal. The Capitals were being outshot, allowing the Kings a whopping 31 shots on goal in the first two period. With 10:49 left in the period, Washington had just 11 shots of its own. But the Capitals turned it on late in the period. “If you listen to Justin on the bench and what he says to his linemates and the guys on the bench, he finds a way to pull people into the fight,” Coach Barry Trotz said. “He does it by example. He finds a way to get things done. That’s his talent.”
With less than a minute left, defenseman Dmitry Orlov sent a perfect slap pass toward the net and Andre Burakovsky deflected it in with the blade of his stick. The tying goal was Burakovsky’s 16th point in his last 14 games. Trotz said he had seen a decline in the team’s sharpness recently. Washington wasn’t as crisp in practice, and some execution in recent games had been poor. Williams said a game against an opponent like the Kings “was sort of a benchmark to see where your team is at.” For the Capitals, they didn’t measure up in the first half of the game.
Brooks Orpik got a secondary assist on the play, making an impact in his first game since Nov. 10. Orpik, who had missed 40 games with a lower-body bone injury, was paired with Orlov in his return. Orpik said he’d keep his expectations realistic because rust was natural after such a long layoff, but he finished plus-1 with the assist, two blocked shots and five hits in 16:43 of ice time. “At times, and at times not so much,” Trotz said when asked if it felt like a postseason game. “We weren’t involved in the playoffs there in the second period and even in the first.”
A choppy first period had led to an early Kings lead. Five penalties were called in the first 20 minutes of the game, with the two teams alternating power plays. As T.J. Oshie sprung out of the box after a holding minor halfway through the period, he stripped Alec Martinez and would have had a clear breakaway, but Martinez tripped him. Oshie smacked his stick against the boards in frustration, and the ensuing power play saw just two shots on goal by the Capitals. With the second period about to expire, Washington was lucky to be down by just one goal. The Capitals were being outshot, allowing the Kings a whopping 31 shots on goal in the first two periods. With 10:49 left in the period, Washington had just 11 shots of its own. But the Capitals turned it on late in the period.
Washington’s three power play chances produced five shots on goal, and its last of the period hurt the Capitals. Marcus Johansson attempted to pass to Alex Ovechkin in transition, but Los Angeles’s Drew Doughty broke the play up. Dustin Brown fed Anze Kopitar, who punched in his own rebound for a shorthanded score and a 1-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first period. With less than a minute left, defenseman Dmitry Orlov sent a perfect slap pass toward the net and Burakovsky deflected it in with the blade of his stick. Burakovsky has 17 points in his past 14 games.
With both teams atop their respective divisions, the matchup was touted as a potential preview for another meeting in June. For Williams and Mike Richards, the game had special significance because it was their first time playing their former team. Williams had all fond memories of his time in Los Angeles, beloved there after winning two Stanley Cups and earning a “Mr. Game 7” nickname for his heroics in such playoff situations. Brooks Orpik got a secondary assist on Burakovsky’s goal, making an impact in his first game since Nov. 10. Orpik, who had missed 40 games with a lower-body bone injury, was paired with Orlov in his return. Orpik said he’d keep his expectations realistic because rust was natural after such a long layoff, but he finished plus-1 with the assist, two blocked shots and five hits in 16:43 of ice time, including 2:42 shorthanded.
Richards, however, had an ugly exit from the organization. His contract was terminated for a “material breach” after he was arrested and later charged with possession of a controlled substance while entering Canada. Richards recently said he doesn’t hold any grudges, but both he and Williams admitted this wasn’t just any game for them. [After missing 40 games, Brooks Orpik is back in the lineup]
“I mean, I want to say it’s just another game, but it’s not,” Williams said beforehand. “It has a lot of meaning to me; it has a lot of importance to me. At the same time, it has a lot of importance for our team, too. We’re trying to get better, and that’s a good team to do it against.” “I think I just wanted to get into it quick,” Orpik said. “I think taking a couple penalties probably wasn’t good for our team, but it was good for me personally. Just getting a couple penalty kills in gets you in the game quick.”
With both teams atop their respective divisions, the matchup was touted as a potential preview for another meeting in June. For Williams and Mike Richards, the game had special significance because it was their first time playing their former team. Williams had said earlier in the week that he’d like to say “it’s just another game, but it’s not.”
There will be one more game between these teams in the regular season, and if everything breaks right, there may be more to come after that.
“All in all, happy with the result,” Williams said.