NHL Playoffs Buzz: Protas could return for Capitals in Game 4

Welcome to the NHL Playoff Buzz. The postseason is underway, and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news.

Washington Capitals

Aliaksei Protas could return for Game 4 against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SN, TBS, truTV, MNMT, MAX).

The Capitals lead the Eastern Conference First Round best-of-7 series 2-1.

Protas, a forward, hasn't played since April 4, when he sustained a skate cut on his left foot against the Chicago Blackhawks. He missed the last six games of the regular season and the first three games of this series.

However, Protas has skated with the Capitals the past two days in Montreal, including taking contact during their optional practice Saturday.

"Yeah, I mean, he's full go in practice, so we'll just see tomorrow," coach Spencer Carbery said. "Everything is looking good. He's out there taking contact. So, we'll just see tomorrow."

Protas was third on Washington during the regular season with an NHL career-high 30 goals. He was also tied for third in points with Pierre-Luc Dubois after getting an NHL career-high 66 in 76 games.

The Capitals have used the same lineup for each of the first three games in the series, and it is unclear who would come out of the lineup to make room for Protas. -- Dan Rosen

Winnipeg Jets

Gabriel Vilardi will be a game-time decision in Game 4 of the Western Conference First Round against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center on Sunday (1 p.m. ET; FDSNMW, MAX, truTV, TBS, SN, TVAS, CBC).

The forward practiced in a regular jersey with the Jets on Saturday after being in a noncontact jersey prior to that. Vilardi hasn’t played since sustaining an upper-body injury on March 23.

“He’s got that yellow jersey off, [so] now it becomes a game-time decision,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said Saturday.

The Jets have a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Vilardi set NHL career highs during the regular season in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61) in 71 games.

“He’s a power forward with great skill, so he helps us in the offensive zone, helps us on the power play,” Arniel said of Vilardi.

Dylan DeMelo, who was a late scratch for Game 3 due to illness, practiced Saturday. The defenseman is expected to play Sunday. -- Tracey Myers

New Jersey Devils

Defensemen Luke Hughes and Brenden Dillon each will miss his third straight game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Prudential Center on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, MAX, truTV, MSGSN, TBS, SN360, TVAS).

Each sustained an undisclosed injury in Game 1 of the series.

"Luke and Dillon still haven't skated, so they'll be out [Sunday]," Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said Saturday.

Dillon was pushed awkwardly to the ice by Hurricanes forward William Carrier at 11:35 of the second period of the 4-1 loss on April 20 and did not return; Hughes left at 8:36 of the third after taking a hit to the shoulder and he also left for the locker room, but did return at 15:32.

New Jersey also could be without Johnathan Kovacevic (undisclosed) after the defenseman did not play following the first period of a 3-2 double-overtime win in Game 3 on Friday. -- Mike G. Morreale

Carolina Hurricanes

Alexander Nikishin is eligible to play for the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 23-year-old defenseman signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Hurricanes on April 11 and Carolina officially registered his contract for this season Saturday.

Nikishin had 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) in 61 games with SKA St. Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League this season as team captain. He was second among KHL defensemen in goals and game-winning goals (four), and third in points. He had three points (two goals, one assist) in four KHL playoff games.

Selected by the Hurricanes in the third round (No. 69) of the 2020 NHL Draft, he has been one of the top defensemen in the KHL the past three seasons.

"We had agreed with his agents to keep the options open for Alex to potentially play a game in Chicago (of the American Hockey League) at some point," Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky said. "But with their season now over, it makes sense to officially register an NHL contract for him, and we are excited for his future with the team."

The Hurricanes lead 2-1 in their best-of-7 Eastern Conference First Round series against the Devils. Game 4 is in New Jersey on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, MAX, truTV, MSGSN, TBS, SN360, TVAS).