Evgeny Kuznetsov scored two third period goals to lift the Washington Capitals to a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers Saturday night at Rogers Place.
Patrick Maroon extended his point streak to five games when he banged in a Connor McDavid rebound at 12:16 of the first. Adam Larsson made it 2-0 for the Oilers when his shot from the slot beat Braden Holtby high to the stick side. Devante Smith-Pelly put the Capitals on the board on an odd-man rush with just 17.8 seconds left in the first.
The Capitals controlled most of the play in the second period and tied it on Lars Eller’s one-timer at 10:32 and didn’t look back after that.
“I thought the goal at the end of the first period didn’t help us. That gave them some life going into the break and it was very preventable,” said Oilers head coach Todd McLellan. “Then, we came out in the second and for the first 10 or 12 minutes we turned the puck over way too much. It fed right into their transition and they got going and we chased it from there.”
“We stopped doing what we were doing,” added Oilers captain Connor McDavid. “We decided that we were going to turn the puck through the middle. They are as good as anyone off the rush.”
Kuznetsov put the Caps ahead 3-2 just 30 seconds into the third, knifing home a pass from Alexander Ovechkin. He scored again with 4:04 left. Instead of going behind the net, he reached back and tucked the puck under Cam Talbot.
It’s not the first time that Kuznetsov has come up big against the Oilers. He had a five point game in the last season at Rexall Place.
“It’s my favourite town, because Jason Chimera’s from this town and he’s a big friend. It’s true,” said Kuznetsov.
Jay Beagle added an empty netter.
The Oilers struggling power play had chances at key points in the game but they couldn’t capitalize. They finished the night 0/4.
“It’s predictable, its stationary, we are obviously going to have to change the personnel around a fair amount. We’ve given them enough opportunity,” added McLellan.
Holtby made 38 saves for the win, as the Oilers sink to 3-6-1 on the season.
“There is nothing early about this. Let’s not kid ourselves,” explained McLellan. “We don’t have enough players playing at their capabilities, or at least what we think their capabilities are to consistently win.”
They’ll look to turn it around on Wednesday when they host Pittsburgh.
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