Capitals manage win after losing top scorer Kuznetsov early to injury
Centre leaves Game 2 in 1st period with upper-body injury
The Washington Capitals picked up a big win in Las Vegas on Wednesday, but it came at a cost.
Playoff points leader Evgeny Kuznetsov was forced from his team's 3-2 victory near the end of the first period after absorbing a hit from the Golden Knights' Brayden McNabb.
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So now the refs and NBC will just ignore the contact to the head of Kuznetsov? No call. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALLCAPS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ALLCAPS</a> <a href="https://t.co/rtdx4zAp5q">pic.twitter.com/rtdx4zAp5q</a>
—@stopthehatsThe Russian centre, who tops the post-season scoring race with 25 points, immediately went to the ice holding his left arm. He then skated to his team's bench and went straight to the dressing room.
He did not return for the rest of the game with what the Capitals are calling an upper-body injury.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz offered no update on Kuznetsov after the game.
"[That hit] galvanized us as a group," Trotz said. "This group has learned so much. They've gotten so resilient. This group has had everything thrown at them, and they just say, `You know what? We're going to push on."'
The Stanley Cup Final best-of-seven series is now tied one game apiece. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday in Washington (8 p.m., CBC).
with files from Canadian Press