Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: First goal of postseason
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Protas scored a goal in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Hurricanes in Game 1 on Tuesday.
Protas opened the scoring early in the second period. He poked the puck to himself out of a battle at the blue line, skated down the right side and wired a wrist shot inside the far post from the right circle. It was Protas' first goal of the 2025 playoffs (two games). The big winger is coming off a 30-goal, 66-point campaign, and the Caps need his scoring touch against the dominating two-way presence of the Canes.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Expected to play Wednesday
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Protas (foot) is expected to be in the lineup versus the Canadiens in Wednesday's Game 5, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Protas warmed up on the fourth line, which suggests he'll be eased back in after a 10-game absence. The 24-year-old Protas was superb at even strength in the regular season, earning 30 goals and 36 assists over 76 games. He had just six special-teams points -- five shorthanded and one on the power play.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Slated to be game-time call
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Protas (foot) will probably be a game-time decision for Game 5 against Montreal on Wednesday, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.
Head coach Spencer Carbery believes Protas is close to being available, and the 24-year-old forward will return to the lineup once given the green light to play. Protas compiled 30 goals, 66 points and 142 shots on net through 76 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. He could occupy a top-six role if he is back for Game 5.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Not available for Game 4
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Protas (foot) will not suit up for Game 4 against Montreal on Sunday, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.
Protas will miss a 10th consecutive game Sunday, as he hasn't been in the lineup since April 4 versus Chicago. He'll have a few days to try to work his way back to full health before Game 5 on Wednesday. Considering the long layoff since his last appearance, Protas may be eased into action once he's cleared to play.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Game-time call
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Aliaksei Protas (foot) will be a game-time decision for Game 4 against Montreal on Sunday, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Protas could return from a nine-game absence after being cleared for contact during Saturday's practice. He didn't skate with Washington's extras Sunday, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, which is another encouraging sign. The 24-year-old Protas amassed 30 goals, 66 points and 142 shots on net across 76 regular-season appearances in 2024-25.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Cleared for contact
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Protas (foot) was a full participant in Saturday's practice and could be ready to play in Game 4 against Montreal on Sunday, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
After being cut by a skate, Protas has been absent for the Capitals' last nine games, including the first three contests of Washington's first-round playoff series versus the Canadiens. The 24-year-old forward would provide an offensive boost if he receives the green light to return to the lineup. Protas broke out in 2024-25 with 30 goals and 66 points in 76 regular-season appearances.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Still out for Game 3
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Protas (foot) won't suit up Friday in Game 3 versus the Canadiens, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Protas will miss his ninth straight game due to the injury, but the fact that he was a game-time decision Friday is encouraging. He'll turn toward trying to be available Sunday in Game 4 instead. Once healthy, Protas should resume being a force on offense at even strength, though likely in a middle-six role since Anthony Beauvillier is thriving on the top line early in the playoffs.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Game-time decision
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Protas (foot) was deemed a possibility to play versus the Canadiens in Game 3 on Friday, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Protas has been shelved for the Caps' last eight contests after suffering a laceration on the top of his foot. Even if the 24-year-old natural center is given the all-clear, he is far from a lock to suit up in Game 3 and could serve as a healthy scratch during the postseason.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Traveling with team
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Protas (foot) will join the Capitals on the road for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Sunday, respectively, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Protas' return is far from guaranteed -- he may just be traveling in order to skate with the team -- but it's certainly a step in the right direction. The 24-year-old center has missed the Caps' last eight contests due to his foot injury. Prior to getting hurt, the Belarusian was rolling offensively with 16 points in his last 16 outings, including a pair of shorthanded goals.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Not in Game 2 lineup
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Protas (foot) won't play Wednesday versus the Canadiens, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Protas was not officially ruled out prior to warmups, but he never seemed to have much of a chance to play Wednesday. He's still a possibility later in the first round, so keep an eye on his status once the series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Friday.
Protas (foot) is expected to be a game-time decision for Game 2 versus Montreal on Wednesday, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News.
Protas hasn't been in the lineup since April 4. He finished the 2024-25 regular season with 30 goals and 66 points across 76 appearances. If Protas is available against the Canadiens, then he might play on the top unit alongside Alex Ovechkin, which would result in Anthony Beauvillier seeing a reduced role.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Could play sometime in first round
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Head coach Spencer Carbery said Monday that Protas (foot) could return at some point during the Capitals' first-round series against the Canadiens, Tarik El-Bashir of Monumental Sports Network reports.
Protas participated in Monday's morning skate, but Carbery's comments make it unlikely that the 24-year-old will play in Game 1 of the series. However, Protas could return to action sometime in the coming days, with Carbery indicating that it could be as early as Game 2. Over 76 regular-season appearances, he logged 30 goals and 36 assists while averaging 16:27 of ice time.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Hasn't yet resumed on-ice work
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Head coach Spencer Carbery said Thursday that Protas (foot) is progressing in his recovery but hasn't yet resumed on-ice work.
Protas sustained a foot injury in early April and was considered week-to-week at the time. While he seems to be trending in the right direction, he'll be sidelined for Thursday's regular-season finale against the Penguins, and his status for the Capitals' first-round playoff series against Montreal seems to be up in the air.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Deemed week-to-week
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Protas (foot) is week-to-week and won't play against the Islanders on Sunday, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Protas could miss the remainder of the regular season after being cut by a skate in Friday's 5-3 win over Chicago. After Sunday's matchup, Washington has only five games left before the beginning of the playoffs. Protas has been a breakout producer in 2024-25, compiling 30 goals, 66 points and 142 shots on net in 76 appearances. Anthony Beauvillier will replace Protas in Sunday's lineup.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Can't finish contest
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Protas was unable to return to Friday's game versus the Blackhawks after suffering an apparent lower-body injury, Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post reports.
Protas appeared to be favoring his left leg as he exited the ice in the third period. There was no update on his status after the contest, leaving him day-to-day ahead of Sunday's game versus the Islanders. If Protas misses time, Connor McMichael would likely get back in the top six, while Anthony Beauvillier or Ethen Frank could reenter the lineup.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Nets shorthanded goal
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Protas scored a shorthanded goal and had three shots on net in Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Sabres.
Protas found the back of the net just 37 seconds into the third period. With the goal, the 24-year-old is up to 30 goals, 65 points and 136 shots on net in 73 appearances this year. With his goal Sunday, Protas joined an elite club by becoming one of 18 players to have both 30 goals and assists this season. Additionally, Protas has the third-best shooting percentage among skaters who have played 50 or more games this season at 22.1 percent. He has been one of the best breakout stories for the 2024-25 fantasy season and should continue to provide great value in all league formats the rest of the way.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Ten points in last six games
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Protas put up two assists in a 4-1 win over Detroit on Tuesday.
Protas has been a revelation this season. He has three points, including two assists, in his last two games and 10 points (six goals, four helpers) across his past six appearances. Protas has 61 points (29 goals, 32 assists) and 128 shots in 68 contests this season. While only one assist has come with the man advantage, Protas has demonstrated tremendous growth in his defensive game. He leads the NHL with a plus-42 rating, and he has put up four shorthanded points. He's on the ice when it really matters, and he's always on the right side of the puck. It's only a matter of time before Protas starts getting time on the power play, especially at his size (6-foot-6, 247 lbs).
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Scores again in win
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Protas scored a goal and went plus-3 in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.
Protas has six goals and two assists over his last five contests, a span in which he's added 10 shots on net and a plus-11 rating. That level of offense is unsustainable for every player, but it's a good burst of production from one of the league's top even-strength performers this season. Through Saturday's action, Protas is tied for seventh in the NHL with 54 even-strength points. He's at 29 goals, 59 points, 126 shots on net and a league-best plus-41 rating through 67 appearances. While shooting 23.0 percent is a red flag for future regression, Protas has been too good to ignore in 2024-25.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Earns first career hat trick
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Protas scored three goals on six shots and went plus-4 in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Ducks.
Protas tied the game at 2-2 late in the first period and added a pair of tallies in the third, including the empty-netter, to complete his first career hat trick. The 24-year-old has five goals and three assists over six games in March as he continues a stellar campaign. For the season, Protas is at 28 goals, 58 points, 125 shots on net and a league-leading plus-39 rating. All but five of his points have come at even strength -- he's earned four shorthanded points and one power-play point this season.
Protas notched two goals, including one shorthanded, and an assist in Friday's 5-2 win over the Red Wings. He also posted a plus-3 rating, three shots on goal and a hit.
Protas recorded three points in a single game for the third time in 2024-25. He has accomplished the feat twice in seven outings since the regular season resumed following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. Protas has posted eight points (three goals, five assists) in eight games since the resumption of the league. He has exploded offensively this campaign, producing 25 goals and 29 helpers through 63 appearances.
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