Washington Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas is unlikely to play in the playoff opener against the Montreal Canadiens due to a skate cut on his foot, which caused him to miss the final six regular-season games. Coach Spencer Carbery remains optimistic, suggesting Protas could return during the series. Protas had a standout regular season with 30 goals and 66 points, contributing to the Capitals’ top record in the Eastern Conference.
