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SPORTS Monday 25 February 2019
Kuznetsov's overtime winner lifts Caps over Rangers, 6-5

By IAN QUILLEN need to start playing bet-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Evg- ter."
eny Kuznetsov wanted to Rangers defenseman
win so badly Sunday he Brady Skjei scored multiple
was even willing to get in goals for the first time in his
Alex Ovechkin's way. career, his second tying
Kuznetsov scored at 4:20 of the game with 31 seconds
overtime, just beating his remaining in regulation.
star teammate's stick to the Chris Kreider added his
puck, and the Washington 26th, Jimmy Vesey contrib-
Capitals defeated the New uted his 15th, and Vladislav
York Rangers 6-5 in their re- Namestnikov also scored
turn from their longest road for New York.
trip this season. Lundqvist stopped 29 shots
"Those two points are really for the Rangers, who nearly
big for us," Kuznetsov said pulled off a surprising vic-
of the victory, which came tory despite going into the
after Washington twice trade deadline Monday in
gave back two-goal leads. rebuilding mode.
"I feel especially today be- They dealt forward Mats
tween one and two points Zuccarello to Dallas on
it will be a huge difference Saturday for a pair of draft
at the end of the season." picks, and sat forward Kev- Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92), of Russia, scores the game-winning goal dur-
ing overtime of an NHL hockey game against New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93),
Rangers goaltender Hen- in Hayes and defenseman defenseman Brady Skjei (76), and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, second from right, of Sweden,
rik Lundqvist tried to block Adam McQuaid for a sec- Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Washington. Also seen is Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia.
Kuznetsov's pass back to ond straight game Sunday. Associated Press
Ovechkin in front of the "There's an awful lot of
net. good to take out of to-
But the puck trickled away night," Rangers coach Da-
from Lundqvist and into the vid Quinn said. "The fact
crease. Ovechkin first at- that we fought back from
tempted to knock it in for two-goal deficits twice. ...
what would've been his We weren't pushed around
45th goal before Kuznetsov physically or mentally.
guided it across the goal These are the things you're
line from inches out for his going to have to do mov-
16th of the season. ing forward to have suc-
"I don't think it matters who cess."
scores, right?" Kuznetsov Backstrom hadn't scored in
said. "As long as we got a 12 games entering Sunday,
win." but he gave Washington a
Nicklas Backstrom scored 5-3 lead when he beat Lun-
his 14th and 15th goals as dqvist over his glove from in
the second-place Capitals close early in the third for
moved within two points of his second of the game.
the Metropolitan Division- Namestnikov redirected
leading New York Islanders, Neal Pionk's effort past Co-
having played two more pley on a Rangers power
games. play a few minutes later.
Tom Wilson added his 17th While the Capitals killed
goal, and Nic Dowd and off another New York man
Michal Kempny also scored advantage inside the final
for Washington. Pheonix four minutes, Skjei's deflect-
Copley made 26 saves as ed shot forced overtime
the Capitals won a day af- and set off wild celebra-
ter losing in Buffalo to finish tions on the visitors' bench
their six-game trip at 3-3-0. after the Rangers emptied
"We know it's a big time of their net.
the year," Backstrom said. "It's been an emotional 48,
"The last 20 games here, 72 hours for everybody,"
we need to get going, we Quinn said. "And that felt
need to collect points. We really good, that goal."q