Aliaksei Protas is one of the most unique goal scorers in Washington Capitals franchise history, and not because of how fast or large he is.
Protas had a breakout year during the 2024-25 season, scoring 30 goals in 76 games. After Sunday night’s Capitals-Blue Jackets game, where he scored an empty-netter, he is on pace for 27 goals during the 2025-26 campaign.
In his career, Protas has scored 53 total goals, and a grand total of zero of them have come on the power play.
According to a stat cited during Monumental Sports Network’s broadcast on Sunday, Protas holds the franchise record for most goals scored to start a career without striking while up a man.
Most Capitals goals to start career without a power-play goal
| Player | Goals |
|---|---|
| Aliaksei Protas | 53 |
| Jay Beagle | 51 |
| Ken Klee | 38 |
| Gaetan Duchesne | 32 |
| Boyd Gordon | 27 |
Protas topped long-time Capitals fourth-line center Jay Beagle with his 52nd career goal against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. Beagle went his entire 646-game NHL career without a single power-play point, let alone a power-play goal.
Beagle received 32:26 of total power-play ice time during his 471 games with the Capitals. Protas has already played nearly three times as much (92:06) on the man advantage in his 274 games with the Caps. He has filled in on the club’s second unit a few times in his career, but does not currently hold a spot.
Among the other names in the top five are defenseman Ken Klee, winger Gaetan Duchesne, and another long-time fourth-line center, Boyd Gordon. Duchesne would go on to score three power-play goals with the Capitals and nine in his career, Klee would score two with the Caps and six in his career, and Gordon would score two later in his career with the Edmonton Oilers.
While Protas may still not be getting much opportunity on the power play, he’s still making great use of his five-on-five minutes. According to MoneyPuck, Protas is one-third of the best five-on-five forward line in the league, with Tom Wilson and Justin Sourdif completing the trio.
With the three on the ice this season, the Capitals have outscored their opposition 9-2. The team has also owned 72 percent of expected goals and high-danger chances during their shifts.
Protas may get more of a look, power-play-wise, now with Ryan Leonard out for an “extended period of time” with an upper-body injury. Ethen Frank took Leonard’s role on the top unit against the Blue Jackets on Sunday, but Protas did see 12 seconds of ice time on one of the team’s power plays after the first unit had come off the ice.
This article has been updated to reflect the empty-net goal Protas scored in the Capitals’ 2-0 win over the Blue Jackets.
