Capitals’ Thompson, Protas to be game-time decisions ahead of Game 4

Washington Capitals’ Head Coach Spencer Carbery says goaltender Logan Thompson and forward Aliases Protas will be game-time decisions ahead of their Game 4 first-round matchup against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.

Thompson left Game 3 on Thursday with an injury after Dylan Strome inadvertently ran into his teammate late in the third period. Thompson had to be helped off the ice by a teammate and a trainer.

As for Protas, he has been out since April 4 with a lower-body injury.

Thompson appeared in 43 games this season, compiling a record of 31-6-6 with a .910 save percentage (SV%) and 2.49 goals against average (GAA). Now in his fifth NHL season, Thompson has a career record of 89-39-17 with a .912 SV% and 2.62 GAA with the Capitals and Vegas Golden Knights.

An undrafted net minder, Thompson spent the first four seasons of his NHL career with the Golden Knights, where he helped the club win a Stanley Cup championship in 2023. He was not able to play in the playoffs that spring due to an injury, but his name was still engraved on the Cup.

As for Protas, he hit career highs in all offensive categories, scoring 30 goals and 36 assists for 66 points in 76 regular-season games. In four NHL seasons, Protas has 43 goals and 76 assists for 119 points in 245 career regular-season games.

Taken by the Capitals in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, the Belarusian forward spent two seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders. His best season was in 2019-20, where he scored 31 goals and 49 assists for 80 points.