Capitals Rally Past Injured Penguins Behind Ilya Protas' 3-Point Game

Washington 6, Pittsburgh 3

The Washington Capitals stayed in the playoff race with a 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, thanks in large part to 19-year-old rookie Ilya Protas, who recorded a goal and two assists for three points in his second NHL game. Alex Ovechkin added his 929th career goal, and Ryan Leonard netted two goals as the Capitals picked up a crucial victory in the Metropolitan Division race.

Protas, who scored his first NHL goal, was the standout performer, becoming the first teenager to record three points in a game for Washington since Scott Stevens in 1984. His slick playmaking and composure under pressure helped the Capitals (41-30-9) move within one point of the Philadelphia Flyers for third in the division with two games remaining.

“I was still nervous a lot before this game,” Protas said. “But I definitely felt a little more confident. Just was focused on my next shift and just a simple, simple 200-foot game.”

The Capitals took control early in the second period, with Aliaksei Protas scoring the first goal at 1:39, assisted by his younger brother Ilya. Ryan Leonard then gave Washington a 2-1 lead at 6:02 after a controversial goal was upheld on video review. Tom Wilson made it 3-1 at 8:08, reaching 30 goals for the second straight season.

Pittsburgh (41-23-16), which has already clinched second in the division, was missing key players including Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Erik Karlsson. The Penguins battled back with goals from Anthony Mantha and Kevin Hayes, but Leonard’s second goal of the night at 11:58 put the Capitals up 4-2. Ilya Protas added a power-play goal in the third, and Ovechkin sealed the win with an empty-net tally.

“I don’t care who’s playing, we just need a big win,” Ovechkin said. “Obviously, tomorrow (Crosby) is probably going to play.”

With the win, Washington improved to 3-1-0 in its last four games. The Capitals and Penguins will meet again Sunday in Washington.