Aliaksei Protas set a new career high in points with his assist on Alex Ovechkin’s empty-net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. The big Belorussian’s 16th helper was his 30th point in 35 games this season.
Protas found a wide-open Ovechkin at the center line after Pierre-Luc Dubois dug the puck out of Washington’s zone with 3:27 left in regulation.
Protas’ previous career best was the 29 points (6g, 23a) he tallied in 78 games last year. The 23-year-old forward hadn’t recorded 30 points with a team since posting 80 points (31g, 49a) in 58 games during his final junior season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders.
“When he’s getting into scoring areas, you can just tell he’s got a ton of confidence,” head coach Spencer Carbery said last week. “His shot’s improved. He’s hitting his spot. Happy for him because he’s worked so hard, and he’s such a great person, and he’s so down to earth, so it’s nice to see him having so much individual success.”
Among all NHL forwards to have played in at least 15 games this season, Protas ranks seventh in the NHL in five-on-five points per 60 minutes (3.02). The only players ahead of him are Jack Eichel (3.10), Nikita Kucherov (3.16), Tyler Seguin (3.29), Ivan Barbashev (3.31), Brandon Hagel (3.33), and Alex Ovechkin (4.20).
Protas has combined well with Ovechkin and Dylan Strome on Washington’s top line. At five-on-five, the trio has outscored their opposition 16-5.
