Protas last appeared on April 4th due to a foot injury but has been travelling with Washington for their first-round series vs. Montreal and is a game-time decision to return for Game 3 on Friday. The 24-year-old took a massive step forward in his fourth NHL season in 2024-25, with 30 goals, 60 points and a +40 plus/minus in 76 games played.

Unsurprisingly, Thompson will make his third straight start as Washington looks to take a further 3-0 stranglehold on their series vs. Montreal on Friday. The 28-year-old has continued his in-season success by becoming nearly unbeatable in the playoffs thus far, with his 2-0-0 record, .951 SV% and 1.47 GAA. He'll face the tough task of Montreal at home on Friday, who were 23-12-6 at the Bell Centre this season.

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and the first two games of the playoffs due to a laceration on his foot, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Alexeyev exited Game 1 on Monday due to an upper-body injury after playing only 14:02 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old defenseman only played eight games this season, scoring zero points. He will be able to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.

The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and will now miss the first two games of the playoffs due to a laceration on his foot, but appears to be nearing a return to the lineup as he was a game-time decision on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and missed Game 1, but could return to the lineup for Game 2. The 24-year-old Protas scored an impressive 66 points (30G / 36A) in 76 games this season.

Alexeyev exited Game 1 on Monday due to an upper-body injury after playing only 14:02 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old defenseman only played eight gams this season, scoring zero points. He could be ready to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.

The Capitals had a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 and will likely roll with Thompson between the pipes on Wednesday for Game 2. Thompson was excellent in Game 1, his first game in nearly three weeks, perfect through two periods and saving 33 of 35 shots (.943 SV%) in the victory. The 28-year-old Thompson made his playoff debut last season with the Vegas Golden Knights and improved his career totals to a 2.27 GAA and .926 SV% in five games (3-2-0). The Capitals enter Game 2 as -172 home favorites against the Canadiens.

Alexeyev exited Game 1 on Monday due to an upper-body injury after playing only 14:02 time-on-ice. The 25-year-old defenseman only played eight gams this season, scoring zero points. He is expected to be ready to return to the lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday.

Thompson has not played since April 2nd, recovering from an upper-body injury, but has practiced the last several days. The 28-year-old Thompson had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign, his first with the Capitals, posting a 2.49 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 games (31-6-6). That said, he struggled in the latter half of the season, posting a 3.22 GAA and .877 SV% in his final 13 appearances (7-4-2). The Capitals enter Game One against the Montreal Canadiens as -179 home favorites

Protas missed the final six games of the regular season and will miss Game 1, but is expected to play at some point in the series. Anthony Beauvillier has been skating in the Capitals' top-6 recently to replace Protas.

Trineyev was a fourth-round pick of the Capitals in 2020 and has spent the last two seasons in Hershey (AHL) after coming over from the KHL. In 2024-25, Trineyev had 14 goals and eight assists (22 points) in 62 games.

Thompson has not played since April 2nd, recovering from an upper-body injury, but has practiced the last several days. He was the first goalie off the ice at Washington's morning skate on Monday, typically indicating the starting goalie. The 28-year-old Thompson had an outstanding 2024-25 campaign, his first with the Capitals, posting a 2.49 GAA and .910 SV% in 43 games (31-6-6). That said, he struggled in the latter half of the season, posting a 3.22 GAA and .877 SV% in his final 13 appearances (7-4-2). The Capitals enter Game One against the Montreal Canadiens as -179 home favorites.

Stevenson will make his NHL debut on Thursday in Washington's season-finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Stevenson is an undrafted netminder who has spent most of the previous three seasons playing for the Hershey Bears (AHL). The 26-year-old Stevenson has a 2.94 GAA and .888 SV% in 33 games with Hershey this season (18-8-4). Washington enters Thursday's contest as -108 road favorites against Pittsburgh.