Protas was a surprise scratch for Wednesday's game, with the Capitals not announcing his absence until the start of warmups. The team added Protas is listed as day-to-day with the injury.
The Golden Knights will turn to Thompson for the second time in the last three games, replacing an Adin Hill that has struggled lately. Thompson has only played once in the last seven games, but was terrific in that solo outing, saving 20 of 21 shots (.952 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on March 17th. The Golden Knights will face off against a Seattle Kraken club they defeated 5-4 less than two weeks ago.
The Capitals are riding a three-game winning streak, all with Lindgren between the pipes, and will rightfully return to him for a fourth straight game on Wednesday evening. Lindgren has been sensational lately, allowing fewer than two goals in four of his last six games (5-1-0), posting an absurd .956 SV%. That said, the Capitals enter action as +120 home underdogs against a Maple Leafs club playing the tail end of a back-to-back after losing 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers last night.
Lindgren has been the more reliable of the Capitals goalies this season and, as such, he will start for a third straight game on Monday. The 30-year-old netminder has allowed three or fewer goals in five straight (4-1-0), posting a sensational .959 SV%. The Capitals enter action as +123 road underdogs against a Flames club that has outscored their opposition 9-3 during a two-game winning streak.
The lower-body injury held Protas out of last night's game in Edmonton but he is feeling healthy enough to suit up on Thursday. Nicolas Aube-Kubel will sit in his place.
Lindgren will be back between the pipes for the Capitals on Thursday after Darcy Kuemper got the nod in Wednesday's 7-2 defeat at the hands of the Oilers. Lindgren was unable to overcome a tough assignment his last time out, allowing three goals on 29 shots as the Capitals lost 3-0 in Winnipeg on Monday. Lindgren's record sits at 15-11-2 on the season to go along with an impressive .912 SV%. He could have a hard time getting back in the win column on Thursday with the Capitals being +140 underdogs in Seattle.
Protas blocked a shot on Saturday and was able to play through the injury on Monday, but will be held out of Wednesday's game in Edmonton. His absence makes way for the return of Nic Dowd (upper-body).
Wilson did not play on Monday due to an upper-body injury but will return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. After an unproductive start to the season, Wilson has turned things around with seven points (3G / 4A) in his last eight games.
Dowd has been on injured reserve since suffering a lower-body injury on February 20th. The 33-year-old centre has been solid in his usual bottom-six role this season, with eight goals, 16 points, 45 SOG, 30 PIMs and +8 plus/minus through 45 games before his injury.
Fehervary played only 1:36 time-on-ice in his last game on February 17th before exiting the game with a lower-body injury and has missed 10 games since but will return to the lineup on Wednesday. The hard-hitting Slovak defenseman had 12 hits and one assist in his last four games before his injury.
Fehervary played only 1:36 time-on-ice in his last game on February 17th before exiting the game with a lower-body injury and has missed 10 games since but could return to the lineup on Wednesday. The hard-hitting Slovak defenseman had 12 hits and one assist in his last four games before his injury.
Dowd has been on injured reserve since suffering a lower-body injury on February 20th. The 33-year-old centre has been solid in his usual bottom-six role this season, with eight goals, 16 points, 45 SOG, 30 PIMs and +8 plus/minus through 45 games before his injury.
Wilson did not play on Monday due to an upper-body injury but could return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers. After an unproductive start to the season, Wilson has turned things around with seven points (3G / 4A) in his last eight games.
Lindgren will in fact make his sixth-consecutive start on Monday despite missing the morning skate due to maintenance. He turned in a terrific performance against the Blackhawks on Saturday, allowing just one goal on 32 shots enroute to a 4-1 victory. Lindgren owns a 15-10-5 record on the season to go along with a more than respectable .912 SV%. He draws a tough assignment on Monday as the Capitals find themselves as +170 underdogs in Winnipeg.
Wilson will be forced to miss Monday's game in Winnipeg after scoring in each of the last two games. T.J. Oshie (upper-body) will likely take his place in the lineup.
Lindgren will be between the pipes for the Capitals for the fourth-consecutive game when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins on Thursday. Lindgren took the loss on Sunday, allowing four goals on 27 shots as the Capitals fell to the Coyotes by a score of 5-2. Lindgren's record sits at 13-10-5 on the year to go along with a .906 SV% and 2.86 GAA. He draws a difficult matchup on Thursday as the Capitals find themselves as +140 underdogs in Pittsburgh.
