Washington Capitals: Top 3 key players to watch against Senators

#2 Evgeny Kuznetsov

Evgeny Kuznetsov has gotten off to a fire start with nine points in the first five games of the season with four goals and five assists. He scored on Saturday against the Flames and is one shy of Alex Ovechkin for the goal and points lead. Kuzy passed Kevin Hatcher with that goal on Saturday for 13th on the Capitals franchise points list.

He is now three points of passing Scott Stevens (429) for 12th all time in points. Individually at five on five, Kuznetsov has created 13 scoring chances this season, only trailing Ovechkin (16) for the team lead.

Mike Vogel noted in his Saturday Postgame Notebook that Kuznetsov and Connor McMichael tied for the team lead with five shots on net each and both players had nine shot attempts in the game, while Ovechkin led with 10.

Kuznetsov’s goal on Saturday wasn’t just any goal, it was a shorthanded goal. Why not give him a whirl on the penalty kill?

"“I don’t know why you guys think that skill guys can’t kill penalties,” Kuznetsov said after the game."

Head coach Peter Laviolette echoed a similar statement about Kuzy’s defensive game:

"“[Kuznetsov’s] been really good with his details to defense, and he’s done a good job since being there. There’s also that threat where, [if] he does get the chance, he can make something happen.”"