Capitals News: Rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov Impressing His Teammates, "At The Top Of His Game"

Rooke Evegeny Kuznetsov has slotted in at center alongside forward Troy Brouwer for 28 straight games, and the Washington Capitals' young standout doesn't look to be going away after scoring seven points in seven games coming into Sunday's action.

“Me and Kuzy have been pretty comfortable with each other lately. We’ve been trying to find a spark in the last 10 or 15 games or so and I think tonight was a real good one for us,” Brouwer said after the team's 3-2 win over the Western Conference-leading Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, via Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post.

Kuznetsov had two primary assists in that contest, drawing high praise from his teammates for his obviously soaring on-ice confidence.

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“It’s seems like he’s at the top of his game right now,” forward Jason Chimera said.

To linemate Troy Brouwer, Kuznetsov's breakthrough has a lot to do with his maturation the defensive zone.

“D-zone first and foremost,” Brouwer said, when asked in what areas he’s seen Kuznetsov grow the most. “Beginning of the year, that was partly the reason he was bouncing up and down the lineup. Lately he’s been able to get (coach Barry) Trotz’s trust and we get put out for important d-zone faceoffs against important guys sometimes."

Trotz says it's all a part of the learning curve for "cerebral" players like Kuznetsov.

“I think with any young player, and I was saying before the game, you start playing more games and your recognize more players and you get to know the league a little bit, and you start to feel comfortable and today he was feeling it,” Trotz said. “He looked really fresh and that puck was on a string with him. That was a really good line for us tonight. They had a lot of zip."