Just yesterday, Tom Gulitti delivered an important update on the Washington Capitals, reporting, “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.”

A few weeks ago, Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas suffered a lower-body injury in the third period of the team’s 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. The injury happened as a skate blade sliced into his foot. Therefore, Protas was deemed week-to-week. The team faced a troubling development, as the forward was enjoying a standout season, achieving career highs with 30 goals, 36 assists, and 66 points, coupled with a team-leading plus-40 rating.

However, that specific footage of him gliding across the ice alters the entire narrative. His presence on the rink marks a significant development for the Caps, as they will have one of their standout players available for the postseason. However, have you heard? There’s additional positive information to share.

On X, Tom Gulitti has shared an update on Protas, noting, “Aliaksei Protas (skate cut on foot) skating more freely and with more speed today than yesterday. Protas also skating backwards and doing backward crossovers, which I didn’t see him do yesterday. Protas skated for about 15 minutes, passed some pucks around with Ethen Frank for a few minutes when Frank came out before the morning skate, and then left after being called off by trainer Jason Serbus.”

The Washington Capitals forward’s movement has clearly improved. The NHL correspondent noted that Protas exhibited a more liberated skating style and greater speed than he did the day before. He notably integrated backward skating and backward crossovers into his routine—techniques he had not tried the previous day—demonstrating enhanced comfort and strength.

Additionally, Gulitti provided coverage on Protas, noting that he spent 15 minutes on the ice, where he briefly exchanged pucks with rookie teammate Ethen Frank. Only time will reveal whether he is suited to participate in the forthcoming postseason matchup against the Montreal Canadiens.

They will prove to be a tough battle for the Washington Capitals

The Montreal Canadiens achieved an impressive turnaround in the 2024-25 NHL season, securing their first playoff spot since 2021. Under the guidance of head coach Martin St. Louis, the Canadiens evolved from a rebuilding squad into a formidable postseason contender, concluding the season with a record of 40-31-11. This presents a precarious situation for the Washington Capitals. What’s the reason for that?

The Canadiens’ performance in their last 10 games stands at an impressive 7-1-2, while the Capitals have struggled with a record of 4-6-0. A significant difference! Additionally, a crucial six-game winning streak from March 30 to April 8 catapulted the Canadiens into the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card position.

Following a short-lived setback against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal clinched their playoff spot with a 4-2 triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes on April 16. The match was marked by Kaiden Guhle’s impressive two-goal performance and Sam Montembeault’s 27 saves. Their accomplishment marks a historic milestone, as they become the youngest team ever in NHL history to secure a playoff spot, boasting an average age of 25.95 years. Captain Nick Suzuki topped the team with 89 points and is poised to embark on his third postseason journey with the franchise. It remains to be seen how they will perform against the Washington Capitals.