Not All Good News For Capitals With Troubling Aliaksei Protas Injury News

While everyone in DC was celebrating the historic achievement of Alex Ovechkin on Sunday, the Washington Capitals also got some troubling news with the announcement that 30-goal man Aliaksei Protas will be out week-to-week with a serious cut from a skate blade. Bad timing, with the playoffs set to begin in less than two weeks.

Aliaksei Protas is week-to-week with a lower-body injury, Spencer Carbery announced. pic.twitter.com/BBAjb1nEGX
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2025

Protas suffered the injury in Friday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks. It's a bad cut on his left foot from an inadvertent skate blade from Wyatt Kaiser.

Haven't yet seen an update on Aliaksei Protas after he left early in the third. After studying the contact, his reaction, and that he was standing unassisted in the locker room, I think he might've been cut behind the tongue of his skate. Not good but better than feared if so. pic.twitter.com/ceFqOqZi01
— Green Line Brawl (@GreenLineBrawl) April 5, 2025

His foot was heavily wrapped after the game, as he tried to walk on it. But head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed he will not be available, likely for Washington's final five games of the regular season.

If Protas is forced to miss time into the playoffs, it'll be a tough blow for the Caps, as the 6'6" breakout Belarusian has been a beast this season, with 30 goals — almost tripling his combined goal total from the previous three seasons combined.

"He's one of our most valuable players every night."

Aliaksei Protas is having himself an incredible season! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/iBnwOGL9zb
— NHL (@NHL) March 19, 2025

He also ranks second in the entire NHL with a robust plus/minus rating of +40. He's averaged 16:27 of ice time per night.

At even strength, Protas is tied for 8th in the league with 60 points.

The 24-year-old was the Caps' third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

As for Ovi, we've got video of all the angles and all the momentous calls of his record-breaking goal #895, right here.