With star Center Nicklas Backstrom still dealing with recovery from a hip ailment, the Washington Capitals are looking for the team’s other top forwards to pick up their offensive game in his absence. Two of those, Center Evgeny Kuznetsov and Right Wing Tom Wilson, showed that potential in the second period of the team’s preseason game against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. Both goals came in rapid succession. Kuznetsov struck first, on assists from Alex Ovechkin and Garnet Hathaway at the 6:09 mark of the second frame.
The follow up 🦅 pic.twitter.com/9VtC31rNKf
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 7, 2021
Wilson’s strike came on a nice move in front of Boston goalie Linus Ullmark at the 7:05 timestamp of the second; the primary assist came from Kuznetsov, who caught Wilson breaking, and defenseman Nick Jensen.
Tom Wilson best goal scorer pic.twitter.com/tFxhBFveWF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 7, 2021
The strikes came just 56 seconds apart and marked both Kuznetsov and Wilson’s first goals in the preseason. The Caps’ 2-1 lead lasted just under six minutes, as Boston’s Taylor Hall struck at the 13:17 mark to tie the game at 2-2. The two teams headed into the second intermission deadlocked at the score.
By Michael Fleetwood