The Washington Capitals took a 1-0 lead in the second period of Game 1 against the Carolina Hurricanes thanks to Aliaksei Protas scoring his first NHL playoff goal of his career. Protas dented the twine behind goaltender Frederik Andersen just 3:53 into the second.
After John Carlson intercepted the puck in the Capitals’ defensive zone, he moved it up to Brandon Duhaime at the blue line. Duhaime locked horns with Shayne Gostisbehere in a board battle, allowing Protas to poke the puck free and race down the ice for a clean look at Andersen.
Protas’s milestone goal came in just his second game back from a skate-cut injury that kept him out of the Capitals’ lineup for 10 games.
“It was a tough time being away from the boys,” Protas said of his injury to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan during the second intermission. “Just watching from the stands, wanting to get back as soon as possible, but understood I have to be careful for this. Take maybe extra time to make sure I can give my best out there. Trying to do that.”
Protas lined up on the Capitals’ fourth line with Duhaime and Nic Dowd, but head coach Spencer Carbery plans to use him all over his lineup in the series.
The 24-year-old forward had not scored a goal in his five previous career playoff games, but did have two assists in four games against the New York Rangers last year. Protas, who told Kaplan he feels “90 percent” back to form, broke out during this past regular season, recording 66 points (30g, 36a) in 76 games for the East-best Capitals.
Protas’s goal in Tuesday’s game came on the team’s ninth shot overall and fifth at five-on-five. The Hurricanes dominated the first period, doubling the Capitals up in shot attempts, 37-14, and leading in shots on goal, 12-5. Despite scoring and taking a lead into the break, Protas still wasn’t thrilled with the team’s performance in the second frame.
“I don’t think it was a good second (period) either, to be honest with you,” Protas told Kaplan. “I think we’ve got more to give. They came out hard. They’re a good, fast team, you know. We were prepared for that. I think our touches, execution, and D-zone needs to be better, and we’ll be fine.”
The Hurricanes didn’t produce the same volume in the third period and overtime, but ultimately did out-attempt the Capitals 24-6 and outshot them 13-3 in the final 23:06 of the game. After Logan Stankoven forced overtime with a goal in the third, defenseman Jaccob Slavin delivered Carolina a 1-0 series lead with a shot from the blueline in the extra frame.
Protas finished the night with 16:01 of ice time, two shots on goal, five individual shot attempts, four individual scoring chances, two individual high-danger chances, and one shot block.
