Protas scores in return from injury as Capitals keep playoff hopes alive with 6-2 win over Sabres

— Aliaksei Protas had a goal and assist in his return from injury and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 on Saturday night.
Apr 4, 2026, 10:02 pm - AP
ESPN+123T
Sabres2002
Capitals3126
1st PeriodBUFWSH
3:15Jakob Chychrun (25)
Assists: Alex Ovechkin (29), Pierre-Luc Dubois (11)
01
3:35Dylan Strome (18)
Assists: Aliaksei Protas (25), Alex Ovechkin (30)
02
5:52Connor McMichael (11)
Assists: Jakob Chychrun (34), Pierre-Luc Dubois (12)
03
6:30Rasmus Dahlin (18)
Assists: Josh Norris (18), Alex Tuch (32)
13
12:15Beck Malenstyn (7)
Assists: Jordan Greenway (5), Rasmus Dahlin (51)
23
2nd PeriodBUFWSH
6:06Aliaksei Protas (24)
Unassisted
24
3rd PeriodBUFWSH
6:26Ryan Leonard (17)
Assists: Cole Hutson (5), Justin Sourdif (18)
25
8:55Tom Wilson (29) (Shorthanded)
Assists: Connor McMichael (30)
26

Shot Chart

NHL Shot Chart
  • Takeaway by Dylan Strome
  • Alex Ovechkin Snap Shot saved by Alex Lyon
  • Dylan Strome faceoff won against Ryan McLeod
  • Hendrix Lapierre faceoff won against Jordan Greenway
  • Trevor van Riemsdyk hit Josh Doan
  • Alex Ovechkin Wrist Shot saved by Alex Lyon
  • Jakob Chychrun Goal (25) Snap Shot, assists: Alex Ovechkin (29), Pierre-Luc Dubois (11)
  • Dylan Strome Goal (18) Tip-In, assists: Aliaksei Protas (25), Alex Ovechkin (30)
  • Rasmus Sandin hit Beck Malenstyn
  • Rasmus Sandin Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Rasmus Sandin Snap Shot High and Wide Right
  • Connor McMichael hit Zach Metsa
  • Jakob Chychrun Snap Shot Hit Left Post
  • Connor McMichael Goal (11) Snap Shot, assists: Jakob Chychrun (34), Pierre-Luc Dubois (12)
  • Matt Roy Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Ethen Frank Tip-In Wide Right
  • Brandon Duhaime hit Mattias Samuelsson
  • Connor McMichael Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Tom Wilson hit Logan Stanley
  • Giveaway by Rasmus Sandin
  • Justin Sourdif faceoff won against Josh Norris
  • Giveaway by Rasmus Sandin
  • Owen Power shot blocked by Aliaksei Protas
  • Giveaway by Dylan Strome
  • Alex Ovechkin hit Rasmus Dahlin
  • Giveaway by Matt Roy
  • Hendrix Lapierre hit Ryan McLeod
  • Tom Wilson Tip-In Hit Right Post
  • Giveaway by Justin Sourdif
  • Takeaway by Rasmus Sandin
  • Ryan Leonard Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Giveaway by Brandon Duhaime
  • Matt Roy hit Josh Doan
  • Jakob Chychrun Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Giveaway by Trevor van Riemsdyk
  • Dylan Strome faceoff won against Ryan McLeod
  • Aliaksei Protas Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Dylan Strome faceoff won against Josh Norris
  • Alex Ovechkin Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Pierre-Luc Dubois Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Dylan Strome faceoff won against Tyson Kozak
  • Alex Ovechkin Tip-In Wide Right
  • Ryan Leonard hit Beck Malenstyn
  • Giveaway by Cole Hutson
  • Giveaway by Martin Fehérváry
  • Dylan Strome faceoff won against Josh Norris
  • Alex Ovechkin Tip-In Wide Left
  • Giveaway by Connor McMichael
  • Pierre-Luc Dubois Snap Shot Above Crossbar
  • Jakob Chychrun hit Jack Quinn
  • Rasmus Sandin Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Brandon Duhaime Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Rasmus Sandin Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Rasmus Sandin hit Tyson Kozak
  • Jakob Chychrun Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Pierre-Luc Dubois faceoff won against Alex Tuch
  • Ryan Leonard Tripping against Zach Metsa
  • Aliaksei Protas Backhand saved by Colten Ellis
  • Aliaksei Protas Goal (24) Snap Shot, assists: none
  • Justin Sourdif shot blocked by Martin Fehervary
  • Giveaway by Ryan Leonard
  • Giveaway by Logan Thompson
  • Giveaway by Justin Sourdif
  • Connor McMichael Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Hendrix Lapierre faceoff won against Ryan McLeod
  • Hendrix Lapierre faceoff won against Tyson Kozak
  • Cole Hutson Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Alex Ovechkin Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Dylan Strome Tripping against Zach Benson
  • Anthony Beauvillier Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Connor McMichael Tripping against Josh Doan
  • Tage Thompson shot blocked by Martin Fehervary
  • Giveaway by Rasmus Sandin
  • Josh Doan shot blocked by Matt Roy
  • Connor McMichael Backhand saved by Colten Ellis
  • Takeaway by Jakob Chychrun
  • Justin Sourdif faceoff won against Josh Norris
  • Owen Power shot blocked by Dylan Strome
  • Matt Roy hit Jack Quinn
  • Jack Quinn shot blocked by Martin Fehervary
  • Justin Sourdif faceoff won against Tyson Kozak
  • Takeaway by Cole Hutson
  • Justin Sourdif Tip-In Above Crossbar
  • Pierre-Luc Dubois faceoff won against Peyton Krebs
  • Ryan Leonard shot blocked by Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Alex Ovechkin Slap Shot Wide Left
  • Connor McMichael Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Cole Hutson Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Connor McMichael Deflected saved by Colten Ellis
  • Takeaway by Justin Sourdif
  • Dylan Strome Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Tage Thompson shot blocked by Rasmus Sandin
  • Trevor van Riemsdyk Holding against Zach Benson
  • Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Martin Fehervary
  • Takeaway by Matt Roy
  • Bowen Byram shot blocked by Rasmus Sandin
  • Matt Roy hit Alex Tuch
  • Connor McMichael faceoff won against Tyson Kozak
  • Beck Malenstyn shot blocked by Connor McMichael
  • Ryan Leonard hit Zach Metsa
  • Ryan Leonard Goal (17) Snap Shot, assists: Cole Hutson (5), Justin Sourdif (18)
  • Justin Sourdif faceoff won against Josh Norris
  • Aliaksei Protas Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Hendrix Lapierre faceoff won against Ryan McLeod
  • Giveaway by Cole Hutson
  • Cole Hutson Hooking against Jack Quinn
  • Jason Zucker shot blocked by Connor McMichael
  • Takeaway by Connor McMichael
  • Tom Wilson Goal (29) Backhand, assists: Connor McMichael (30)
  • Connor McMichael faceoff won against Josh Norris
  • Takeaway by Cole Hutson
  • Justin Sourdif faceoff won against Peyton Krebs
  • Pierre-Luc Dubois faceoff won against Tyson Kozak
  • Giveaway by Connor McMichael
  • Giveaway by Rasmus Sandin
  • Hendrix Lapierre faceoff won against Ryan McLeod
  • Dylan Strome Snap Shot Wide Right
  • Hendrix Lapierre faceoff won against Peyton Krebs
  • Takeaway by Cole Hutson
  • Dylan Strome Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Martin Fehervary Misconduct
  • Justin Sourdif faceoff won against Peyton Krebs
  • Dylan Strome Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Alex Ovechkin Snap Shot saved by Colten Ellis
  • Dylan Strome faceoff won against Ryan McLeod
  • Justin Sourdif Tip-In Above Crossbar
  • Giveaway by Jakob Chychrun
  • Peyton Krebs hit Rasmus Sandin
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Jack Quinn Backhand saved by Logan Thompson
  • Logan Stanley Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Beck Malenstyn hit Martin Fehervary
  • Giveaway by Rasmus Dahlin
  • Tyson Kozak hit Brandon Duhaime
  • Tage Thompson Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Icing
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Timeout - Visitor
  • Ryan Leonard shot blocked by Josh Norris
  • Alex Tuch Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Mattias Samuelsson Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Beck Malenstyn hit Rasmus Sandin
  • Off-side
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Mattias Samuelsson Wrist Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Rasmus Dahlin Goal (18) Snap Shot, assists: Josh Norris (18), Alex Tuch (32)
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Hendrix Lapierre
  • Brandon Duhaime shot blocked by Mattias Samuelsson
  • Logan Stanley Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Josh Norris Wrist Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Giveaway by Owen Power
  • Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Tyson Kozak
  • Zach Benson Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Zach Benson Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Net Dislodged Offensive Skater
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Justin Sourdif
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Tyson Kozak faceoff won against Hendrix Lapierre
  • Tyson Kozak hit Brandon Duhaime
  • Rasmus Dahlin shot blocked by Jordan Greenway
  • Beck Malenstyn Goal (7) Snap Shot, assists: Jordan Greenway (5), Rasmus Dahlin (51)
  • Off-side
  • Tage Thompson hit Cole Hutson
  • Jack Quinn Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Zach Metsa Snap Shot High and Wide Left
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Alex Ovechkin shot blocked by Mattias Samuelsson
  • Dylan Strome shot blocked by Alex Tuch
  • Giveaway by Bowen Byram
  • Anthony Beauvillier shot blocked by Tage Thompson
  • Icing
  • Icing
  • Tyson Kozak faceoff won against Anthony Beauvillier
  • Jack Quinn Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Giveaway by Jack Quinn
  • Giveaway by Rasmus Dahlin
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Icing
  • Tage Thompson faceoff won against Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Peyton Krebs hit Martin Fehervary
  • Jack Quinn Wrist Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Giveaway by Owen Power
  • Jack Quinn Tip-In saved by Logan Thompson
  • Josh Norris hit Martin Fehervary
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Zach Benson Interference against Tom Wilson
  • Jakob Chychrun shot blocked by Alex Tuch
  • Jordan Greenway hit Ryan Leonard
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Giveaway by Ryan McLeod
  • Josh Norris Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Tage Thompson Wrist Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Takeaway by Rasmus Dahlin
  • Josh Norris Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Takeaway by Josh Norris
  • Jason Zucker Tip-In Wide Right
  • Giveaway by Jack Quinn
  • Jason Zucker Slap Shot Wide Right
  • Icing
  • Peyton Krebs faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Peyton Krebs Snap Shot High and Wide Right
  • Alex Tuch Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Jason Zucker hit Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Peyton Krebs Deflected saved by Logan Thompson
  • Off-side
  • Giveaway by Logan Stanley
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Giveaway by Jordan Greenway
  • Beck Malenstyn hit Hendrix Lapierre
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Connor McMichael
  • Jack Quinn Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Josh Norris Snap Shot Short
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Jason Zucker faceoff won against Anthony Beauvillier
  • Zach Benson Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Connor McMichael
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Aliaksei Protas
  • Josh Norris Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Tage Thompson faceoff won against Aliaksei Protas
  • Tage Thompson Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Alex Tuch Backhand saved by Logan Thompson
  • Off-side
  • Icing
  • Tage Thompson faceoff won against Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Icing
  • Peyton Krebs faceoff won against Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Peyton Krebs Wrist Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Off-side
  • Tage Thompson Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Giveaway by Bowen Byram
  • Jack Quinn Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Beck Malenstyn hit Matt Roy
  • Off-side
  • Puck in Netting
  • Mattias Samuelsson Hooking against Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Tyson Kozak faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Connor McMichael
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Anthony Beauvillier
  • Jakob Chychrun shot blocked by Zach Benson
  • Puck in Crowd
  • Beck Malenstyn Snap Shot Wide Left
  • Takeaway by Jordan Greenway
  • Jordan Greenway Backhand saved by Logan Thompson
  • Giveaway by Alex Tuch
  • Puck Frozen - Goalie
  • Icing
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Peyton Krebs hit Jakob Chychrun
  • Icing
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Connor McMichael
  • Giveaway by Bowen Byram
  • Off-side
  • Rasmus Dahlin Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Jakob Chychrun shot blocked by Zach Metsa
  • Tyson Kozak hit Jakob Chychrun
  • Beck Malenstyn Backhand Wide Left
  • Alex Tuch Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Alex Tuch Wrist Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Josh Doan Backhand saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Bowen Byram hit Tom Wilson
  • Rasmus Dahlin hit Connor McMichael
  • Owen Power Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Hendrix Lapierre
  • Owen Power Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Puck in Netting
  • Giveaway by Beck Malenstyn
  • Hand Pass
  • Josh Doan hit Martin Fehervary
  • Rasmus Dahlin Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Jason Zucker Snap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Tage Thompson Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Ryan McLeod faceoff won against Dylan Strome
  • Icing
  • Josh Norris faceoff won against Hendrix Lapierre
  • Zach Benson Misconduct
  • Icing
  • Peyton Krebs faceoff won against Hendrix Lapierre
  • Giveaway by Tage Thompson
  • Goalie Stopped
  • Giveaway by Logan Stanley
  • Giveaway by Jack Quinn
  • Logan Stanley Slap Shot saved by Logan Thompson
SABRES
CAPITALS
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Game Odds
Odds by

OpenMLTotalSpread
Buffalo SabresSabresBUF
(46-23-8)
(46-23-8, 22-13-4 Away)
-115
ML
-115
o6.5
-105
-1.5
+210
Washington CapitalsCapitalsWSH
(39-29-9)
(39-29-9, 24-11-5 Home)
u6.5
-120
-105
u6.5
-115
+1.5
-258