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What will the Capitals do if Evgeny Kuznetsov can’t play?

By Brad Berreman

LAS VEGAS NV - MAY 30: Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) comes off the ice with a hurt arm in the 1st period during a game between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights in game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals in Las Vegas NV on May 30, 2018. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS NV - MAY 30: Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) comes off the ice with a hurt arm in the 1st period during a game between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights in game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals in Las Vegas NV on May 30, 2018. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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If Evgeny Kuznetsov is unable to play Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, how will the Washington Capitals fill the void?

The Washington Capitals evened the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece with a 3-2 win Wednesday night, but they did suffer a significant potential loss. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov left Game 2 in the first period, after a questionable hit from Golden Knights’ defenseman Brayden McNabb.

Kuznetsov appeared to be clutching his left hand after the hit, and on Thursday he was deemed day-to-day by Capitals coach Barry Trotz with an upper body injury. There’s an extra day between games, as the series moves to the Washington, D.C.,area for Games 3 and 4, and Trotz allowed for the possibility of more information on Friday.

Kuznetsov leads all scorers in these playoffs with 25 points (14 goals and 11 assists), and he entered Game 2 on an 11-point streak. He’s been playing on Washington’s top line, in a prime spot alongside Alex Ovechkin.

But if Kuznetsov can’t go in Game 3, or beyond, how will the Capitals attempt to fill the significant void?

Nicklas Backstrom missed time earlier in this playoff run with a hand injury. But he returned to action in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and he’s currently on a four-game point streak of his own with 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) in 17 playoff games thus far. The easiest and most likely move for Trotz is to bump Backstrom up to the top line with Ovechkin, but there are still minutes to fill of Kuznetsov is out.

Lars Eller has been productive during Washington’s playoff run, with 17 points in 21 games played. He was particularly good in Game 2, with three points (two assists) while winning 10 out of 16 face-offs (62.5 percent) in 18:37 of ice time. Jay Beagle topped 14 minutes of ice time (15:30) for just the sixth time in 20 playoff games he’s played on Wednesday night, and Chandler Stephenson played close to 15 minutes (14:52) after barely topping 10 minutes of ice time in Game 1.

Backstrom is the obvious, and quite good, plan to automatically be bumped into a more prominent role if Kuznetsov is unable to play (or is at all limited) in Game 3 Saturday night. Eller would likely step into a little more ice time, as would Beagle and Stephenson if Game 2 with Kuznetsov mostly out was any indication for the latter two.

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The importance of the Stanley Cup Final assures Kuznetsov will do everything possible to play, even if he has to be limited to special situations at less than full strength. But all things considered, the Capitals are in a solid position to fill the void if he does miss any games.

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