The Washington Capitals were the most effective team within the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, but it surely has been a disappointing season for the team this 12 months. As Alex Ovechkin continues to hit milestones, the Caps find themselves outside of the playoff picture.
The Capitals have made a recent run and are actually inside striking distance of a playoff spot with eight games left to play. Still, those hopes took a success on Monday, because it was an update on the injury to Aliaksei Protas was given, per Sammi Silber of The Hockey News.
Protas can be out “a little bit little bit of time,” in line with head coach Spencer Carbery. He was injured in a head-on collision on Saturday while facing the Vegas Golden Knights. The Capitals would come away with a 5-4 win, ending their three game west coach swing 2-1-0.
Protas has been playing as the highest line right wing much of this 12 months, and has been playing great. He has found the back of the web 23 times while dishing 24 assists. His 47 points are fifth on the team. Further, he has been a serious a part of the penalty kill and has three shorthanded points this 12 months.
The Capitals took to the ice Monday morning for a brief practice, during which Pierre-Luc Dubois also took the time without work for maintenance. With Protas out, Connor McMichael jumped as much as the lop line in practice, joining Ovechkin and Dylan Strome. The Caps also places Ethen Frank on the second line, replacing McMichael, and joining Hendrix Lapierre and Tom Wilson.
The Capitals are 37-28-9 on the 12 months, which is sweet for sixth within the Metropolitan Division. With eight games left to play, they are only five points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins for playoff spots. The team returns to the ice on Tuesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, who’re currently three points in front of Washington within the East.
The Washington Capitals were the most effective team within the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, but it surely has been a disappointing season for the team this 12 months. As Alex Ovechkin continues to hit milestones, the Caps find themselves outside of the playoff picture. The Capitals have made a recent run and are actually inside striking distance of a playoff spot with eight games left to play.