Photo: Sportsnet

In the first period 50 seconds into Saturday’s Washington Capitals game against the Buffalo Sabres, Evgeny Kuznetsov had a great end-to-end goal. After getting the puck, Kuznetsov turned on the jets, flew up the ice, glided and faked past Jason Pominville and whiffed the puck past Sabres goalie Robin Lehner. It made me reflect on some of the sick goals that the Wizard called Kuznetsov has had. Here are five of my favorites. 

You can check out Kuznetsov’s recent goal from Saturday below:

2015 FIRST ROUND GAME 7 VS. ISLANDERS 4/27/15
Game 7’s are always a time of stress around here but there have been a few moments where the Caps came out on top. This first round contest in 2015 against the New York Islanders was entertaining and Kuznetsov rose to the occasion in a 1-1 game. Just like this recent game, Kuznetsov uses the glide move which caused both Frans Nielsen and 2010 nemesis: Jaroslav Halak to fall down. This goal helped clinch the series for the Capitals.

FAKING OUT BEN BISHOP 12/12/15
During a road contest with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Kuznetsov came down the ice, protected the puck from a diving Ryan Callahan and faked out goaltender Ben Bishop. Bishop’s eyes were in front, thinking that he stopped the puck but what he didn’t see was that the puck was still with Kuznetsov. As he got past Bishop’s left leg, he quickly put the puck in the net.

DE JA VU IN EDMONTON 10/28/17
Evgeny Kuznetsov did it again almost two years later, this time in Edmonton.

A DANGLE IN MONTREAL 1/9/17
Kuznetsov had a sweet dangle move on Brett Lernout and then quickly pushed the puck past Carey Price.

FLY WEAGLES FLY, SECOND ROUND GAME 1 VS. PENGUINS 4/27/17
While this one wasn’t as dirty as the five goals above, the celly that Kuznetsov had is my favorite celly of all-time. Trailing 2-1 almost midway through the third period, Matt Niskanen swing a quick cross-ice pass to Kuznetsov as he buried the puck before Marc-Andre Fleury could position his body in the path of the shot. This wasn’t the first time Kuznetsov used the flying bird celebration, he actually first broke it out on a goal in Game 3 of the previous round against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but this one is better for the simple fact it came against the Penguins.

Which Kuznetsov goal is your favorite, Caps fans?

By Michael Marzzacco