Kuznetsov during warm-ups. Photo credit: 74hockey.ru

Coming into Sunday’s game, Traktor Cheylabinsk’s fourth of the season, Caps top prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov had scored in every game he played in. Sunday kept that streak going.

Against the KHL’s defending Gagarin Cup champions Dynamo Moscow, Kuznetsov had his second straight two-point game, scoring a goal and recording an assist in the victory.

In the middle of the second period, Kuzya scored his fourth goal of the season, taking a tremendous pass from Stanislav Chistov and scoring on a breakaway to put his team up by two, 3-1.

Just six minutes later, the Caps 2010 first-round pick perfectly laid out a pass for Dmitry Ryabykin, who blasted a puck that was deflected by Jan Bulis to make it 4-1 Traktor. That ended up being the final score.

Kuznetsov’s goal is at the 3:00 mark, his assist at 4:10.

It also was a special game for Valery Belousov as Traktor’s head coach participated in his career 1175th game (International Hockey League, Russian Superleague, KHL). He broke the record of the great Viktor Tikhonov. Only four coaches have passed the 1000-game mark, and only two of them are active – Belousov and Barys’ Vladimir Krikunov. Belousov has coached Russia’s “Big Eastern Three” teams – Traktor, Avangard Omsk, and Metallurg Magnitogorsk. He also has three championships under his belt – two with Metallurg, one with Avangard.

Notes: Belousov told the media after the game that newly-signed Andrei Kostitsyn (formerly of the Predators and Canadiens) will play on Traktor’s upcoming road trip. However, he didn’t disclose who the former NHLer will play with. It is rumored he will join Jan Bulis and Kuznetsov on the first line.

Kuznetsov lunges and scores! (Photo credit: YLE.fi)

In the first game of the Oddset Hockey Games tournament, the Russian National Team took on Finland outside at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium. Caps prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was sporting a maroon hoodie to cope with the 1-degree temperature at puck drop (minus-5 wind chill), centered Russia’s first line. Kuznetsov proved to be Russia’s best player notching a goal and an assist in Russia’s 2-0 win.

In the first period, Kuznetsov brought the puck into the offensive zone. After battling several players along the boards, he managed to shovel the puck to Nikolai Zherdev who then attempted a wraparound. Finnish goalie Ari Ahonen was able to make the initial save, but Stanislav Chistov was first to the rebound and batted it home. 1-0 Russia.

In the third, the 19-year-old Kuznetsov maneuvered around four defending Finnish players and sprung himself on a semi-breakaway. After dekeing, a lunging Kuznetsov slid the puck past Ahonen.

After the game, Kuznetsov explained his decision-making on that play to Soviet-Sport’s Pavel Lysenkov. “I just didn’t know who to pass to, so I had to beat them all.” Fair enough.

On Saturday, Russia will play their second game of the tournament in Stockholm against the Swedes. Puck drop is at 9:30am. Photos and video are below.

Video of Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Goal

Outdoor Game Photos

Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium

The public rink beside Olympic Stadium.

A view from Russia’s bench.

Above images via the Finland National Team’s website

Kuznetsov opted to wear a red hoodie under his jersey to stay warm.

Kuznetsov, who normally plays wing, takes a face-off and centers Russia’s first line.

During the game, one of the linesmen suffered a broken foot.

Here’s him being stretchered off.

Additional reporting by Ian Oland.