The Washington Capitals will be without top-six winger Aliaksei Protas against the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday night.
According to the team, Protas will miss out for personal reasons. In 59 games this season, the 25-year-old forward has recorded 42 points (20g, 22a).
Protas has been one of the team’s top contributors since returning to action after the Olympic break. In those three games, Protas has notched four points (1g, 3a).
Tuesday’s game will be the fourth that he has missed this season. Monumental Sports Network’s Joe Beninati revealed during the game’s broadcast that Protas is on baby watch as he prepares to welcome his second child.
With Protas out of the lineup, Hendrix Lapierre will come back in and center the fourth line. Connor McMichael and Nic Dowd have also moved up a line, and Justin Sourdif will play on the wing of Dowd’s trio.
Capitals’ 3/3 lineup against Mammoth without Aliaksei Protas
The Capitals will also be without defenseman John Carlson, who misses out for a fourth straight game due to a lower-body injury.
