Capitals' Kuznetsov denies of making use of drugs during celebration

The Washington Capitals partied hard after capturing the 2018 Stanley Cup, but center Evgeny Kuznetsov denied that he crossed the line. A video emerged on Monday showing Kuznetsov seated next to a table with two lines of white powder with rolled-up U.S. dollar bills.

Kuznetsov, however, gave a statement to Russian media outlet Sport Express, saying in part, "I don't necessarily have anything to do with what is going on around me. I never used drugs and have no intention to get into it. If there are any questions, I am ready to undergo testing. "I just came by the room where some people I knew stayed. When I saw what was going on there -- unfamiliar women, unknown substances on the table -- I called my friend and left as soon as I could."

A Capitals spokesperson told the Washington Post, "We are aware of the video that surfaced on social media of Evgeny Kuznetsov. We are currently in the process of gathering facts and will have no further comment at this time." NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Monday before the start of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup, according to USA Today, "We need a little more fact-gathering to know what our next steps are."

Kuznetsov, 27, scored 12 goals and added 20 assists in the Capitals' playoff run to the 2018 title. That followed a 2017-18 season in which he compiled career highs in goals (27) and points (83) in 79 games. This season, Kuznetsov finished with 21 goals and 51 assists in 76 regular-season games. He added one goal and five assists as the Capitals lost in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the playoffs.