Talk about your Capital gains. Washington’s star centre has been front and centre in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, averaging more than a point per game as the Eastern Conference champs seek their first crown.
The 26-year-old Russian native is leading all post-season scorers with 31 points, including 12 goals. He had four assists in Washington’s 6-2 win in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Here are some interesting facts (and stats) about No. 92…
top fast facts on Evgeny Kuznetsov
1. Good things come in threes
In his third NHL game on March 14, 2014, Kuznetsov tallied three assists in a win against the Vancouver Canucks. His three helpers came in just 9:58 of ice time in the 4-3 home victory.
2. Medal man
Before making his mark at the NHL level, Kuznetsov was a junior star on the international scene with Russia. He won a silver medal at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship and a gold (2011) and silver (2012) at the IIHF World Junior Championship. At the 2011 World Junior Championships, he tallied four goals and recorded 11 points in seven games - including three assists in the gold medal contest. He also earned gold at the 2014 IIHF World Championship.
3. Extra effort
Kuznetsov scored one of the most important goals in Capitals history in the 2018 Playoffs. He scored at 5:27 in overtime of Game 6 in the Eastern Conference semis against the Pittsburgh Penguins to put Washington into the conference final for the first time in 20 years.
4. Birthday boy
Kuznetsov, born on May 19, 1992, shares a birthday with pop singer Sam Smith, former NBA star Kevin Garnett, explorer Ferdinand Magellan, former wrestling great Andre the Giant, and former NFL QB Archie Manning, father of Super Bowl-winning NFL pivots Peyton and Eli Manning.
5. Playoff pro
In his first Stanley Cup Playoff action in 2015, Kuznetsov tallied a pair of goals in a Game 5 win against the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, then notched the winning goal in Game 7. In 62 career NHL Playoff games, the 6-foor-2, 204-pounder has 23 goals and 50 points, including four game-winning markers.
