Congratulations to Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has been selected as the NHL’s first star of the week after putting together a League-leading nine points in his last three games – an outburst which included his first career hat trick on Friday night.
Kuznetsov has jumped to the team lead in points (11), unseating John Carlson for the first time this year, and has points in four of his last five games (three of which were multi-point games).
Team release:
ARLINGTON, VA. – Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov has been named the NHL’s “First Star” for the week ending Oct. 25, the NHL announced today.
Kuznetsov paced the NHL with six assists and nine points – and also shared the League lead with a +5 rating – as the Capitals (6-1-0, 12 points) won all three of their games. He began the week with three assists, matching a career high, in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on Oct. 20. Kuznetsov then picked up the primary helper on Alex Ovechkin’s tiebreaking goal with 4:55 remaining in regulation in a 3-2 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on Oct. 22. He capped his performance with 5 points (3g, 2a) and a +4 rating, establishing single-game highs in goals, points and plus/minus, in a 7-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 23. In doing so, Kuznetsov became the first Capitals player to record a five-point game since Dec. 10, 2013, vs. Tampa Bay (Nicklas Backstrom: 1g, 4a). The 23-year-old Chelyabinsk, Russia, native has registered 57 points (17g, 40a) in 104 career NHL outings, including 11 points (3g, 8a) in seven appearances this season.
Congrats, Kuzy!
#Kuznetsov with the #HatTrick #CapsOilers pic.twitter.com/oZWtlrEUln
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) October 24, 2015