WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 07: A Washington Capitals fans cheer during the fan watch party at Capitol One Area on June 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. The Washington Capitals head into Game 5 tonight against the Las Vegas Golden Knights with a 3-1 series lead. (Photo by Alex Edelman/Getty Images)
Evgeny Kuznetsov on his return to Capital One Arena: ‘I want to say thanks for all the good and bad memories’
Evgeny Kuznetsov jumped on the ice at Capital One Arena on Friday night for the first-ever time as an opposing player against the Washington Capitals. The 31-year-old center spent the entirety of his NHL career with the Capitals until a trade deadline move saw him sent to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Capitals honored Kuznetsov’s return to the building that he has sent into a frenzy countless times with an emotional tribute video in the first period. The crowd in attendance roared for one of the best forwards to ever don a Capitals sweater.
Postgame, Kuznetsov claimed that he didn’t watch the tribute video on the jumbotron but he definitely heard the thunderous cheering from his former home fans.
“Yeah, yeah [I did],” Kuznetsov said. “No, that’s special. That’s special. I think both crowds, one was in Raleigh right away when they cheer for me and this crowd cheer for me. It’s an award for any player. I want to say thanks for all the good and bad memories. It was an amazing atmosphere and I spend a lot of years here so it was all happy today.”
Despite how his time ended in Washington, Kuznetsov still expressed an immense appreciation for the time he spent with the Capitals.
“It’s huge,” he said. “Huge, yeah. Thanks for everything. It was an amazing 11 years. Nice to be back here, play hockey. I wish them all the best. They got a pretty good team and it’s all positive.”
Kuznetsov skated 16:21 of ice time in his return while lined up on Carolina’s second line with Teuvo Teravainen and Martin Necas. The Hurricanes scored six goals during regulation but Kuznetsov did not factor in on any of them.
He started his night off by being playfully tripped by Alex Ovechkin. Kuznetsov claims Ovechkin said nothing to him and just laughed.
While seeing Kuznetsov try to score on the Capitals was a bizarre sight for many, the Russian centerman was casual about the experience postgame. He says he knew what was in store for him during his first career game against the Capitals.
“That was okay,” Kuznetsov said. “That’s exactly what I expected. It was a tough game, right, anyway? I think it was three games in four nights, kind of one of those where it’s hard for us but I think we fought pretty good. They were fresh, we’re not. Overall, it was a pretty good game.”
Walking back into the away dressing room at Capital One Arena after a game for the first time also gave Kuznetsov no qualms.
‘No, no, I was exhausted, tired,” he said. “I said probably a few times already – I was off for 50 days and then played three times in four days without practices. Especially back-to-backs, it’s not easy.”
Kuznetsov has five points (2g, 3a) in nine games as a member of the Hurricanes. He left the Capitals as the seventh-leading scorer in franchise history with 568 points (171g, 397a) in 723 games and with a 2018 Stanley Cup ring.
