Trending Now - Capitals Triumph Over Penguins With Protas' Stellar Debut

WHO:

NHL.com - Defenseman Sam Girard has five points (5A) and is plus-7 in his last seven games.

NHL.com - Elmer Soderblom has seven points (3G-4A) over his last eight games with the Penguins.

NHL.com - Egor Chinakhov has 21 points (8G-14A) over his last 19 games since joining the Penguins.

RMNB - Ilya Protas is the first teenager in over 42 years to record three points in a game for the Capitals, with the last being Scott Stevens on March 1st, 1984.

RMNB - Ryan Leonard is the first Capitals rookie to score 20 goals in a single season since Alex Ovechkin in the 2005-06 season.

NHL.com - Evgeni Malkin has 82 points (27G-55A) in 67 career games against the Capitals.

RMNB - Ilya Protas, a 19-year-old player for the Washington Capitals, scored his first NHL goal.

RMNB - Aliaksei Protas, Ilya's older brother, plays for the Capitals.

RMNB - Tom Wilson, a player for the Capitals, assisted on one of Ilya Protas's goals.

RMNB - Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals' all-time leading goal scorer, was present during Ilya's milestone goal.

WHAT:

NHL.com - Since March 22, Rickard Rakell has scored 10 goals, the most in the league during that period.

RMNB - The Capitals controlled 66.2 percent of shot attempts, 62.5 percent of expected goals, 71.5 percent of scoring chances, and 65.9 percent of high-danger chances against the Penguins.

RMNB - The Penguins recorded only 12 total shots in the game against the Capitals, including just one shot in the first period, marking the least amount of shots a team has recorded against the Capitals in a single game this season.

RMNB - Ilya Protas finished with 16:06 of ice time and three shots in the game against the Penguins.

RMNB - Leonard's 44 points this year rank 10th all-time among rookie skaters in a single season for the Capitals, surpassing Michal Pivonka's 43 points.

RMNB - The Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on April 11th, 2026.

RMNB - Ilya Protas scored his first NHL goal and recorded three points (1G, 2A) in the game.

RMNB - Ryan Leonard scored two goals, bringing his season total to 20, making him the eighth Capitals rookie to achieve this.

RMNB - The Capitals recorded 35 regulation wins, ranking seventh in the NHL.

WHERE:

RMNB - The game took place at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

ESPN - The 2026 NHL draft lottery will take place on May 5th, 2026.

RMNB - Ilya Protas's first NHL goal was scored on April 11th, 2026, during the third period with 14:04 remaining.

RMNB - Ilya Protas made his NHL debut on April 9th, 2026.

WHY:

ESPN - The NHL regular season is approaching its final day on April 13th, 2026, with many teams' postseason fates already sealed.

RMNB - The Capitals needed a win to improve their playoff chances.

HOW:

ESPN - The NHL playoffs are set to begin on April 15th, 2026.

RMNB - Ilya Protas's first NHL goal was scored during a power play, following a shot from Cole Hutson that he rebounded past Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs.

RMNB - Ilya Protas's first NHL goal was assisted by Dylan Strome, in addition to Tom Wilson and his brother Aliaksei Protas.

RMNB - Ilya Protas scored his goal during a power play, following a shot from Cole Hutson that he rebounded past Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs.

(UPDATED April 13, 2026 15:20 UTC)

As the NHL regular season wraps up on Monday, many teams are already looking ahead to the playoffs, which are set to begin April 15th. Notably, Rickard Rakell has been on fire, scoring 10 goals since March 22nd, the most in the league during that span, while Sam Girard has tallied five assists and is plus-7 in his last seven games. Additionally, Elmer Soderblom and Egor Chinakhov have also made significant contributions, with Soderblom recording seven points in his last eight games and Chinakhov notching 21 points over his last 19 games since joining the Penguins.

(UPDATED April 13, 2026 13:26 UTC)

In a dominant performance, the Capitals outshot the Penguins, controlling over 66 percent of shot attempts and scoring chances, while the Penguins managed just 12 total shots, including only one in the first period. This marked the least amount of shots recorded against the Capitals in a single game this season. Ilya Protas celebrated his first NHL goal during a power play, rebounding a shot from Cole Hutson past Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs.

(UPDATED April 13, 2026 04:05 UTC)

Ilya Protas made history by becoming the first teenager in over 42 years to record three points in a game for the Capitals, a feat last accomplished by Scott Stevens in 1984. Meanwhile, Ryan Leonard has also made his mark, becoming the first Capitals rookie to score 20 goals in a single season since Alex Ovechkin in 2005-06, with his 44 points this year ranking 10th all-time among rookie skaters for the team. Protas's first NHL goal was assisted by Dylan Strome, along with Tom Wilson and his brother Aliaksei Protas, contributing to a memorable night for the young players.

(UPDATED April 12, 2026 21:06 UTC)

The Washington Capitals secured a crucial victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, winning 6-3 on Saturday, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. In a standout performance, 19-year-old Ilya Protas scored his first NHL goal and recorded three points, while Ryan Leonard also shined with two goals, bringing his season total to 20. The Capitals now have 35 regulation wins, positioning them seventh in the NHL as they strive to improve their playoff chances.