Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery announced prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday (7 PM ET, Monumental Sports Network locally, ESPN nationally) that Aliaksei Protas will be a game-time decision. The 24-year-old has missed 10 games after getting cut in the foot by a skate in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4. Here is the latest news as Washington looks to advance to the second round:
Is tonight the night Aliaksei Protas returns? He *looks* ready. #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/xLTk1CgDx2
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) April 30, 2025
- Protas exited the morning skate early, suggesting that he could draw back into the lineup
- Taylor Raddysh, who was scratched for two games late in the regular season before Protas got injured with Anthony Beauvillier also cementing a role in Washington’s forward lineup, stayed on with the extras, which could hint he will come out of the lineup on Wednesday or when Protas is ready to go
- Carbery will not confirm any lineup changes in the postseason
- He said he will talk to the team’s medical staff before puck drop to ensure Protas will be available for Game 5
Protas is officially a game-time decision after being “full-go” the last few days, per Coach Carbery. Protas came off with the others; Raddysh stayed out for extra work. Take that how you will. #ALLCAPS
— Tarik El-Bashir (@Tarik_ElBashir) April 30, 2025
- Alex Ovechkin skated on Wednesday after taking Tuesday’s optional skate off for maintenance
- John Carlson and Jakob Chychrun did not participate, though the skate was optional again on Wednesday
- Elsewhere
- Tampa Bay Lightning right-wing Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar were announced as the three finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award (league MVP voted by the players)
- Carolina Hurricanes re-signed left-wing Taylor Hall to three-year contract extension ($3.167 million cap hit)
By Harrison Brown
