Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov told the media that “it’s not easy to be in first place for 82 games,” on the team’s season as they went 19-16-3, including 7-9-3 in their last 19 games leading up to the NHL pause, after a 22-4-5 start to the season. The Capitals went from first place in the NHL to 10 points behind that spot. “It’s normal to give up a few games,” Kuznetsov said.
Kuznetsov said that he will “definitely” bring his PlayStation to the NHL bubble in Toronto, “but [I’m] ready to play hockey.” He just got a new stick from the store, so he is looking forward to trying that out.
Kuznetsov “just hope(s) there will be good food,” and there will be a feeling of home inside the bubble. “Food will be a big change for us,” as he is used to a mix of healthy and unhealthy ones from during the pause.
He said that the hiatus “suck[ed] a little bit. …[It] feels nice… It’s just nice to play hockey [again].” Kuznetsov stayed in the Washington area during the pause and was one of the first players back on the ice when the Capitals opened their training facility for phase two.
“[I’m] just excited to get back and conditioning was great,” Kuznetsov said, adding that he was most worried about that part. “[I] hope we stay professional [in the bubble].” He thought that his teammates are in “great shape” in training camp so far.
By Harrison Brown
