Thank You Kuzy

One of my first great hockey memories was the Capitals vs Islanders playoff series in 2015. My Dad surprised me with tickets to Game 2. We saw 23-year-old Phillip Grubauer get his first career postseason start in net, and the Caps win 4-3.  I then watched every game of that series, including Game 7. In the third period of a 1-1 game, rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov, with unwavering determination, darted through the middle of the ice and scored the game-winning goal to send the Caps to the second round. After the game, he said, “This ain’t my first rodeo.” 

The biggest moment of his career came on May 7, 2018. Caps vs Penguins, Round 2, Game 6. The Caps were leading the series 3-2 and if they won that game they would be on to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 20 years (and first time in the Ovi era) while simultaneously slaying their dragons that had knocked them out of so many postseasons before. This game was tight and went into overtime, where many Caps fans like myself were extremely nervous, especially because it was a school night and I was supposed to be in bed (which I was) with my phone off and not following the game (no chance). Then 5:23 into overtime Kuzy got a breakaway and scored to send the Caps onward and ultimately winning the Stanley Cup. 

Kuzy has done so much for the Caps organization and the fans.  When it was announced he was traded back in March, I was crushed. While I understood why he was traded, it still didn’t make the feeling any better. When he was on top of his game, he looked like he had so much fun playing and was equally fun to watch, but at least I got to see him with his new team since I go to college in North Carolina. I am even more crushed now that it was just announced that he is leaving the NHL for the KHL in Russia. So because of that I wanted to write this post to say…

Thank you Kuzy! Thank you for all the memories, the laughs, the goals and the points. Thank you for scoring the biggest goals in Capitals history. Thank you for being one of the players who got me into hockey. Even though you probably won’t read this (because I am a blogger with maybe three followers) watching you play was incredible. 

And especially thanks for the moment that became what may be my favorite John Walton radio call, “The demons have been exorcized! Good morning, good afternoon and good night Pittsburgh – we’re going to Tampa Bay!”

Thank you for everything!