Evgeny Kuznetsov raised his leg and started flapping his arms, as Capital One Arena erupted around him. The Capitals center broke out his signature bird celebration, having just tied the game 52 seconds into the third period of Game 5.
Last year against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kuznetsov stopped his routine, saying it brought bad karma. He’s rarely brought it out since.
What gives?
“I was just emotional,” Kuznetsov said. “My daughter loves that stuff. I know she’s happy.”
Kuznetsov’s goal might not have been possible if not for a key adjustment made by coach Barry Trotz in the Capitals’ 6-3 win Saturday over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Midway in the second period, Trotz swapped winger Devante Smith-Pelly for Jakub Vrana on the first line.
After Game 4 — where star Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot on goal — Trotz said the line had to be better. He entered Saturday’s contest with Plans B, C and D ready to go.
As it turned out, Vrana was the perfect move.
He not only scored the game-winner with 4:38 left, but he set up Kuznetsov.
The 22-year-old rookie found an opening — partly due to a mixup from Penguins defenseman Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin —and delivered the pass to a streaking Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov broke free for the breakaway —putting the puck right through Penguins goaltender Matt Murray’s legs for the goal.
The score was the jump the Capitals needed after a second period where the Penguins took a 3-2 lead and outshot Washington, 18-5.
“The playoffs build a lot of character,” Trotz said. “They build confidence. And Jake has stayed with it. He’s had stretches this year where he’s gone 20, 21 games without even a goal on our second line, playing substantial minutes. For a young guy to battle through that a little bit and try to navigate a young career … I think we’ve done a really good job of managing him.”
To start the playoffs, Vrana saw less than seven minutes of ice time in Game 1 against the Columbus Blue Jackets before being scratched entirely for Game 2. But an injury to Andre Burakovsky forced Vrana back in the lineup. He was relegated to the fourth line when Chandler Stephenson replaced him on the second unit.
Still, Trotz was prepared to shake up his first line after Thursday’s loss. Washington was already without Tom Wilson, who was suspended three games for a high-hit on Zach Aston-Reese. Trotz said his team didn’t have time to let the group with Smith-Pelly jell. They had to produce.
They didn’t. Despite good looks early from Ovechkin, the line failed to score and Trotz gave Smith-Pelly the hook.
Vrana was the logical candidate to replace him, given the rookie’s speed and experience in playing with Kuznetsov and Ovechkin. The three shared nearly 92 minutes of ice time in the regular season and outscored opponents by four goals when together. The only potential drawback, however, was defensive.
The Capitals, though, needed the offensive spark. They couldn’t waste an excellent performance from goaltender Braden Holtby, who stopped 29 shots.
Vrana came through, knocking in an Ovechkin rebound to give the Capitals a 4-3 lead.
“Those little inches, sometimes they just kind of win you game,” Vrana said.
Inches — and adjustments — have the Capitals a game away from the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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