The Washington Capitals will be without forward Aliaksei Protas for another game.
Protas did not participate in the team’s optional practice on Wednesday morning, and per the team, will not travel with the Capitals to play the New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
The 25-year-old winger is still ailing with the upper-body injury he suffered against the Vegas Golden Knights this past weekend.
Protas sustained the injury in a brutal, headfirst collision with former Capitals center Nic Dowd. While Dowd was able to return to the game after getting a cut above his left eye stitched up, the woozy Protas was ruled out of the rest of the shootout victory.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery gave his first update on Protas on Monday, saying that the big Belarusian is set to “miss a little bit of time.” Protas did not play against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night, ceding his lineup spot to the debuting David Kampf.
While Protas has not yet returned to the ice, Carbery clarified that his injury is not expected to be season-ending. The Capitals have seven games remaining on their regular-season slate over the next three weeks.
In 70 games this season, Protas has recorded 47 points (23g, 24a). He has missed five games this year, four due to injury.
The Capitals won’t be on the road for long, playing the Devils and then quickly returning home to host the Buffalo Sabres at Capital One Arena on Saturday night.
