Protas scored a goal Saturday in a 3-1 loss to Boston.
It was a prototypical Protas goal. He was at the top of the crease when a rebound fell onto his stick, and he made no mistake. Protas has five points, including two goals, and eight shots in four appearances since returning from the Olympic break. He also missed one game for personal reasons. Protas is up to 21 goals, 22 assists and 131 shots in 60 games this season. He is currently on pace to top the 55-point mark.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Poised to play
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Protas (personal) will return to the lineup against Boston on Saturday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
After sitting out Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Utah, Protas will occupy a second-line role against the Bruins on Saturday. He has generated 20 goals, 42 points and 129 shots on net across 59 appearances this campaign.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Out for personal reasons
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Protas will not play Tuesday versus the Mammoth for personal reasons, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Protas will have a few extra days to attend to the matter before the Capitals' next game, which is Saturday in Boston. Hendrix Lapierre should be in the lineup, while Connor McMichael will step into a second-line spot in Protas' absence.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Two-point effort in win
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Protas scored a shorthanded goal and added an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Flyers.
Both points came in the third period, as Protas helped set up Trevor van Riemsdyk for what proved to be the game-winner before firing home an empty-netter inside the final minute. Protas has two short-handed goals on the season, and they've both come in the last three games. Over his last nine contests, the 25-year-old has caught fire with four goals and eight points, and on the season he's up to 20 goals and 40 points in 57 games.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Extends point streak
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Protas recorded a shorthanded goal and had two shots on net in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Flyers.
Protas found the back of the net for the first time since Jan. 24, but the 25-year-old playmaker has routinely found ways to remain productive for the Capitals. Aside from extending his current point streak to three games with this goal, this was also Protas' fourth goal and eighth point across 15 games since the beginning of January.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Scores first goal since injury
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Protas had a goal, three shots on net, one hit and two blocked shots in Friday's 3-1 win over the Flames.
Protas scored the eventual game-winning goal with a wrister at the 7:35 mark of the third period. It marked his 17th goal of the season, and it was the first in eight games since he returned to the lineup from a lower-body injury. He hadn't scored since a defeat to the Senators on Jan. 1.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Nabs first helper since injury
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Protas logged an assist and two hits in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers.
Protas picked up his first point in five games since he returned from a lower-body injury that cost him three contests. The 25-year-old forward has reclaimed a steady role in the top six, though he remains without much power-play time. Protas is up to 32 points, 99 shots on net, 27 blocked shots, 22 hits, 16 PIM and a plus-20 rating over 46 appearances. If Protas can get his offense on track, he makes for a solid forward in most fantasy formats.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Activated from injured reserve
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Protas (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Friday, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Protas will return after missing the last three games. He is having another fine season with 16 goals and 15 assists in 41 appearances, with only one assist coming via the power play, as Protas averages only 39 seconds of playing time with the man advantage.
Protas (lower body) will be a game-time decision in Chicago on Friday, per Bailey Johnson of The Washington Post.
Protas was on a hot streak before his injury, tallying four goals and five assists in a five-game scoring streak. Overall, Protas has 16 goals and 15 assists with a plus-21 rating over 41 games this season.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Could return Friday
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Protas (lower body) practiced in a regular jersey Thursday and could return to the lineup as early as Friday in Chicago, Sammi Silber of The Hockey News reports.
Protas has missed the last three games after getting hurt Jan. 1 versus Ottawa. Protas was hot prior to his injury, tallying four goals and adding five assists in a five-game scoring streak. Overall, the 25-year-old has 16 goals and 31 points over 41 appearances this season.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Scores again Thursday
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Protas scored a goal on three shots in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Senators.
Protas took a bit of a beating Thursday, briefly leaving the game after going feet-first into the board in the first period. He also took a hack around the ankle later in the contest, but he was able to finish it despite the physical toll limiting him to 14:55 of ice time. Protas has four goals and five assists during a five-game point streak, and he's up to 16 goals, 31 points, 89 shots on net and a plus-21 rating over 41 appearances at the halfway mark of the Capitals' season.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Picks up two more points
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Protas scored a goal and added an assist in Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Rangers.
Protas closed out 2025 with three multi-point efforts over his last four games. He has five goals and five assists over his last seven outings and has gotten back to the high-quality even-strength play that made him a breakout player in 2024-25. He's at 15 goals, 30 points, 86 shots on net and a plus-22 rating across 40 appearances through Wednesday's action.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Three points in New Jersey
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Protas scored a goal on five shots on net and added two assists, a hit and a plus-3 rating in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Devils.
All three points came in regulation, as Protas continues to build momentum heading into the new year. The 24-year-old has found the back of the net in four of the last five games, and through 12 contests in December he's delivered seven goals and 11 points.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Tips in game-winner
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Protas scored a goal in Thursday's 4-0 win over Toronto.
Protas put the Caps up 1-0 in the first period with a tip-in. It was his 11th goal of the season, and it stood as the game-winner. The big man has 21 points and a remarkable plus-22 rating in 34 games. Protas is on a 50-point pace, but a few multi-point outings could get him back closer to last season's 66 points. His last multi-point effort came almost two months ago when he put up two helpers against Seattle on Oct. 21.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Tallies in shootout loss
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Protas scored a goal, blocked three shots and added two PIM in Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Ducks.
Protas has three goals and two assists during his five-game point streak. The 24-year-old forward continues to shine in a middle-six role for the Capitals -- he's gotten on the scoresheet in nine of his last 11 outings. For the year, he's at nine goals, 19 points, a plus-22 rating, 62 shots on net, 23 blocked shots and 13 hits through 29 appearances.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Tallies in Wednesday's win
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Protas scored a goal on three shots, blocked two shots and went plus-3 in Wednesday's 7-4 win over the Oilers.
Protas has a goal and an assist over his last two games after being limited to one tally over his previous 10 outings. It's been tough sledding for the 24-year-old this year, who has been unable to replicate his 21.1 shooting percentage from the 2024-25 regular season. Through 20 contests, Protas has six goals, six assists, 43 shots on net, 16 blocked shots, 10 hits and a plus-10 rating while continuing to see steady top-six minutes.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Two helpers against Seattle
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Protas picked up two assists in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Kraken.
The 24-year-old continues an impressive start to the season by having a hand in Ryan Leonard's second-period tally and Tom Wilson's empty-netter late in the third. Protas has racked up four goals and eight points through the Capitals' first seven games as he looks to prove his 2024-25 breakout -- 30 goals and 66 points in 76 regular-season contests -- was no fluke.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Lights lamp again Friday
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Protas scored a goal on three shots in Friday's 5-1 win over the Wild.
Protas continues to roll for the Capitals while seeing time in all situations. He's up to four goals, six points, 16 shots on net and a plus-5 rating over five appearances, including a goal in two straight games. The 24-year-old was one of the team's top even-strength forwards last year, and that kind of quality play doesn't disappear. Expect another strong year from Protas, though probably with a slightly lower shooting percentage than last season's 21.1 percent mark.
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Capitals' Aliaksei Protas: Leads team in goals and scoring
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Protas scored a goal Tuesday in a 3-2 OT win over Tampa Bay.
It came late in the second. Connor McMichael chased and retrieved a dump-in, and as he skated behind the Bolts' net, he passed behind him to Protas, who wired a one-timer into the open left side of the net from low in the left circle. Protas leads the Caps in goals (three), and he's tied with Tom Wilson for the most points (five; four games). The 24-year-old Protas also has 13 shots in that span. Last season was clearly not an anomaly.
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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.
