The Capital One Arena is set to welcome the inaugural matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington Capitals. The anticipation surrounding this matchup is palpable, fueled by Montreal’s impressive push toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Certainly, the Canadiens boast a 7-1-2 record over their last 10 regular-season games, and they undeniably pose a challenge to the Alex Ovechkin-led Caps. But what is the reason for that?

Examining Washington’s last 10 regular-season games reveals the underlying rationale. The Capitals recorded a 4-6-0 record in their most recent matches, raising significant concerns among the fanbase and leaving a visibly frustrated Alex Ovechkin in the locker room. Why wouldn’t he be? Do you recall his statements from last year? “I hope I’m still going to get uh a couple chances,” said the Caps captain after their round 1 exit in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

However, can you believe it? Amidst the mounting pressure, the Caps appear to have uncovered a promising development concerning one of their injured players. Tom Gulitti shared on X: “Aliaksei Protas (skate cut on foot) skated briefly this morning under the watchful eye of the training staff. Wearing non-contact jersey. He also shot a few pucks after this. You can make your own assessment of his availability for Game 1 vs. Canadiens tomorrow.”

Aliaksei Protas experienced a remarkable 2024-25 NHL season with the Washington Capitals, solidifying his role as an essential player in the team’s achievements within the Eastern Conference. Over the course of 76 games, the 24-year-old center from Belarus notched 30 goals and 36 assists, amassing a total of 66 points and with an impressive +40 plus-minus rating.

The Capitals’ league-leading 3.63 goals-per-game average can be attributed in part to his notable 21.1% shooting percentage and robust two-way play, which were key factors in their top finish in the Metropolitan Division. However, he sustained a foot injury in early April, raising questions about his availability for the forthcoming playoffs. With the latest update from Gulitti, there appears to be significant optimism regarding the Caps forward’s potential return.

Undoubtedly, facing off against the Canadiens presents a formidable challenge, even for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, Protas’ return to the ice could prove to be highly advantageous for his team. Are you familiar with the recent comments made by Ovechkin’s team’s coach regarding their opponents?

Alex Ovechkin’s opponents get an acknowledgement from the coach

“Everybody calls it a young team, young team. They got all these young players. Six of these players played in the Stanley Cup final in the bubble, right? I think Evans played maybe half the games or a handful of games in the playoffs, but he played on that Stanley Cup final team,” noted Spencer Carbery following a practice session at Capital One Arena. You don’t see Carbery praising the other team very much.

Despite having star players like Alex Ovechkin on his roster, the coach remains cognizant of the formidable challenges posed by the Montreal Canadiens to his Washington Capitals. Jake Evans has dedicated six seasons to the Canadiens and has taken part in two postseason tournaments, making him a player of interest for Carbery.

The Caps coach pointed out two more impressive players from the Canadiens, stating, “So they do have some experience and some guys that have been there on deep runs. And then the other thing, not the elephant in the room, what everybody knows is Suzuki’s line with Lane Hutson has, since the Four Nations, we have them as the best line in the National Hockey League.” In his role as a coach, Carbery has observed the matches closely and has been an eyewitness to the Canadiens’ remarkable comeback.

Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson have forged a noteworthy alliance for the Montreal Canadiens this season. Their teamwork on the ice was evident in crucial moments, such as Suzuki’s game-tying goal with only 8.4 seconds left against the Florida Panthers, assisted by Hutson, leading to an overtime victory. Their contributions have been instrumental in driving the Canadiens’ offense forward. Only time will reveal how they will perform against Ovechkin’s Capitals.