No pressure, Alex Ovechkin.
The Washington Capitals captain put Game 5 out of reach Saturday night, as the crew in D.C. kept its season alive against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 4-2 win. Just as teammate Evgeny Kuznetsov predicted.
After last game, Kuznetsov guaranteed an Ovechkin goal. I asked him why he was so confident. "You don't trust me?"
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 7, 2017
"I know (Ovechkin) gonna step up for sure," Kuznetsov said, according to the The Associated Press' Stephen Whyno. "You can see how he play today, that's our captain."
And Kuznetsov is predicting even bigger and better things for Ovechkin in Game 6 on Monday night:
Kuznetsov also said Ovechkin would score twice next game.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 7, 2017
Kuznetsov scored a big goal of his own Saturday, giving the Capitals a third-period lead they wouldn't relinquish. He has goals in three straight games and four in five games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After a quiet first round, the Russian has stepped up.
"You think I ever feel tight?" Kuznetsov asked, per Whyno. "I (am) always loose, try to enjoy the hockey. I live for those type of games."
There was, however, no customary bird celebration after Kuznetsov's goal.
"Bad karma," he said.
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