Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images
If a good start is truly more than half the race then the Capitals second line, Jakub Vrana, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Tom Wilson, are already winning.
“They are definitely getting some chemistry. I think they’re really reading off one another and I think they’re playing a complete game,” said Coach Reirden following the Capitals 5-2 win over the Vegas Knights last night at the Capital One Arena.
To prepare, Reirden said that with an aggressive team like the Knights, he’d challenged the team to come hard, right out of the gates. It was a challenge clearly accepted by the second line crew.
In the first minute of play, Kuznetsov notched a breakaway goal against goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, launching the Birdman’s first flight of the season. Kuznetsov went on to comment about the sweet feed from Dmitry Orlov that set the play, “It was pretty good you know. My job is to get open”. The goal marked the second straight game that the Capitals have scored in the first minute of play.
The bird celly is out early tonight, folks pic.twitter.com/OW2zwloB1F
— Brandon Murphy (@2Murphy8) November 10, 2019
Five minutes later, line 2 would light the lamp again as Vrana found an awaiting Wilson, giving the Capitals an early 2-0 lead in the 1st period, and extending his point streak to four games. In the last four games, Wilson has achieved four goals and four assists in the last four games (8G/7A total).
.@om_wilso is on a rollllllllll #CapsKnights pic.twitter.com/p9ZUXXp6qe
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2019
Vrana was on the assist for both of his linemates goals.
The Caps have scored in the first minute of play in the last two games and defenseman John Carlson believes this early success is crucial. He told me, “I think it’s big to have a good start every game, but it seems like we’ve been lacking a little bit of mojo at home and I think that [Kuzy’s breakaway goal] was a good way against a really good team to start the game”.
With a shot attempt percentage that exceeding 53%, this trio is fast and unquestionably hitting on all cylinders, escalating the pressure on opposing teams. Reirden said, “They obviously have a lot of speed on that line, beyond both wings, and obviously Kuzy is an elite skater so they’ve been able to create a lot of opportunities and it makes us a very difficult match up when Kuznetsov is playing at that level”.
Last night’s 5-2 win over the Knights extended the Caps’ win and points streaks to six and 11 games respectively. The Caps have scored 4+ points in 10 of the last 11 games and 5+ seven times and the young second line forwards are strong contributors to that overall success.
What a finish *chef’s kiss* #CapsKnights FINAL SCORE:#Caps 5 – Golden Knights 2 #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/3ltBUEBGOG
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 10, 2019
The Capitals are hoping to extend their win streak against the Arizona Coyotes at 7 pm tomorrow night in Washington.
By Stephanie Judge
Are the Caps now doing their version of the Triplets Line? (3 young players that the Tampa Bay Lightning stuck on their then 2nd line of Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, and Ondrej Palat)
Good reference.
Wonder why Kuzy put the bird cells in his pocket for the first month of the season.
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