Washington Capitals News

Protas (foot) will not play in Game 3 on Friday.

Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.

Aliaksei Protas
Protas (foot) is a possibility to return for Game 3 on Friday in Montreal.

Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.

Aliaksei Protas
Thompson will start Game 3 in Montreal on Friday.

Unsurprisingly, Thompson will make his third straight start as Washington looks to take a further 3-0 stranglehold on their series vs. Montreal on Friday. The 28-year-old has continued his in-season success by becoming nearly unbeatable in the playoffs thus far, with his 2-0-0 record, .951 SV% and 1.47 GAA. He'll face the tough task of Montreal at home on Friday, who were 23-12-6 at the Bell Centre this season.

Logan Thompson
Protas (foot) will travel with Washington as they head to Montreal for Game 3.

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs due to a laceration on his foot, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Aliaksei Protas
Thompson will start Game 2 against the Canadiens.

The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.

Logan Thompson
Protas (foot) will not play in Game 2 against the Canadiens.

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and will now miss the first two games of the playoffs due to a laceration on his foot, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Aliaksei Protas
Thompson was the first goalie off the ice at Washington's morning skate ahead of Game 2.

The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will likely roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.

Logan Thompson
Alexeyev (upper-body) left Game 1 on Monday but is expected to be good to go for Game 2 vs. Montreal on Wednesday.

Alexeyev exited Game 1 on Monday due to an upper-body injury after playing only 14:02 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old defenseman only played eight gams this season, scoring zero points. He is expected to be ready to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.

Alexander Alexeyev
Thompson will start Game 1 against the Canadiens.

Thompson has not played since April 2nd, recovering from an upper-body injury, but has practiced the last several days. The 28-year-old Thompson had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign, his first with the Capitals, posting a 2.49 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 games (31-6-6). That said, he struggled in the latter half of the season, posting a 3.22 GAA and .877 SV% in his final 13 appearances (7-4-2). The Capitals enter Game One against the Montreal Canadiens as -179 home favorites

Logan Thompson