NHL Playoffs Buzz: Protas out for Capitals in Game 1 against Canadiens

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Washington Capitals

Aliaksei Protas did not play for the Capitals in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, but coach Spencer Carbery said he expects the forward to return at some point during the best-of-7 series.

Protas missed the Capitals’ final six games of the regular season because of a skate cut on his left foot he sustained against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4.

“I think, absolutely, I would expect him to play, and we’ll see when that is,” Carbery said. “It might be Game 2 (on Wednesday). We’ll see.”

Protas skated for 15 minutes prior to the start of the Capitals’ morning skate before being called off the ice by athletic trainer Jason Serbus. That progress came after he skated briefly on Sunday.

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. -- Tom Gulitti

Winnipeg Jets

Gabriel Vilardi practiced in a noncontact jersey on Sunday for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury on March 23.

The injury forced Vilardi, a forward, to miss the final 11 games of the regular season as well as the Jets' 5-3 win against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round on Saturday.

Game 2 of the best-of-7 series was at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Monday.

“It’s awesome. It’s great that he’s around,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said following an optional practice. “He has been around here, but again, when I see that other jersey change color, then we’ll start talking about him.”

Vilardi, who remains day to day, was third on the Jets in goals (27) and fifth in points (61), each an NHL career high, in 71 games. -- Darrin Bauming

Tampa Bay Lightning

Oliver Bjorkstrand will not play in the Eastern Conference First Round against the Florida Panthers, Lightning coach Jon Cooper said on Saturday.

The forward sustained a lower-body injury during a 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 11 and missed the final three games of the regular season. He had been ruled week to week.

Game 1 of the best-of-7 series will be at Amalie Arena in Tampa on Tuesday (8:30 p.m. ET; FDSNSUN, SCRIPPS, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360). Game 7 is scheduled for May 4.

Bjorkstrand had 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 79 regular-season games, including nine points (five goals, four assists) in 18 games after he was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on March 5.

He has been replaced in the lineup by Conor Geekie, who has scored twice in three games since being recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League. Geekie had 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 52 NHL games this season.

Forwards Luke Glendening (upper body) and Mitchell Chaffee (upper body) were full participants at practice, and Cooper said the extra days will help their availability for the best-of-7 series.

"It does nothing but help," Cooper said. "We were a little nervous about having to play that Thursday game on a one-off trip going all the way up to New York, but to get those two more days ... it's rest for the guys. If you go all the way, it's two demanding months. Who knows how it's going to play out." -- Corey Long