Capitals hopeful to get back Kuznetsov for today’s Game 3
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin predicted Evgeny Kuznetsov would be fine after taking a big hit in the Capitals’ 3-2 road victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
While his linemate hasn’t yet been cleared to play, Washington’s captain was onto something.
Kuznetsov took part in an optional practice Friday morning, two days after getting rocked by Vegas defenceman Brayden McNabb.
The Russian centre, who leads the overall NHL playoff scoring race with 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists), skated off Wednesday night and went straight to the locker-room favouring his left arm after the crushing first-period collision that saw Kuznetsov tumble to the ice along the boards.
The team said at the time he suffered an upper-body injury.
Washington head coach Barry Trotz said Friday that Kuznetsov, who was not made available to the media, will “probably” be a game-time decision when the series shifts to Capital One Arena tonight.
But Ovechkin, just one point behind Kuznetsov in the scoring race, reiterated he was confident his regular linemate would be good to go.
“He’s one of our top guys,” Ovechkin said at Washington’s practice facility. “Of course it’s very important to see him skating and I’m pretty sure he’s going to be OK (for Game 3).”
The best-of-seven series is tied at one game apiece.
Ovechkin, along with defencemen Brooks Orpik, John Carlson and a few other teammates, didn’t take part in Friday’s on-ice session. But the focus was squarely on Kuznetsov, who didn’t seem to be favouring anything as he went through a series of drills with teammates.
“You need everyone at this time of year,” said Tom Wilson, Kuznetsov’s other winger. “He’s a big piece of our team. It’s good to see him get out there and feel the puck. “He looked pretty good.” Kuznetsov has been fairly durable throughout his career, something that Trotz has seen first-hand in his four years behind Washington’s bench.
“He’s got some toughness to his game and he bounces back,” said the coach.
The Capitals will be hosting their first Stanley Cup game in 20 years tonight. Washington was swept in four games by the Detroit Red Wings in the club’s only other final appearance in 1998.
“I’m excited,” said Ovechkin, who waited 13 seasons to make the third round, let alone play at home in the final. “Everybody’s excited in Washington. It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be interesting, it’s going to be hard.
“That’s why we worked so hard to be in this spot and be in this moment.”
The Capitals are just 4-5 at home in these playoffs.
The Golden Knights are 6-2 on the road and have yet to lose two straight in any fashion this spring.