ARLINGTON — After practice Wednesday, Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov got to unwind the way many 20-somethings choose to relax: by playing some video games. But this was no casual task. Kuznetsov took on one of the top “NHL 20” players in the world.
John Casagranda, known by his gamertag “JohnWayne,” joined him online and played from his home in Anchorage, Alaska. First, both played as the Capitals; Kuznetsov scored twice in the first period, but went on to lose, 6-2. Then they tried a matchup of the U.S. national team against Russia, and Johnny Gaudreau picked up a hat trick as JohnWayne drubbed Kuznetsov’s Russians, 8-3.