Aliaksei Protas leads Capitals to win over Islanders with his first two goals of the season: '[He's] made in a laboratory. We all say he's the best player in the league.'

"Aliaksei Protas already has his Washington Capitals coaches and teammates raving about him again, just two games into the 2025-26 season. After a career-best 2024-25 campaign saw him record 66 points (30g, 36a) in 76 games, Protas is right back to racking up points, posting three (2g, 1a) in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night. The big Belarusian's efforts led the Capitals to their first victory of the year, and Protas is now the team's scoring leader with four points (2g, 2a) through two games."

"While Protas played down the marker, his teammates and bench boss were less nonchalant about the speed and shooting talent that he showed off to put the Capitals up 4-0. "[He's] made in a laboratory," Ryan Leonard said. "It's crazy. We all say he's the best player in the league, so it's special. He's a special player." "I'm telling you, he's just scratching the surface on his career in this league," head coach Spencer Carbery said. "He's such a horse, he's such a big guy that skates so well, that's now going to play on the power play this year. He's got a bright, bright future - not that anybody doesn't know that by now after last year's season.""

Aliaksei Protas scored two goals and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders, giving the Capitals their first win of the 2025-26 season. Protas now leads the team with four points (2g, 2a) through two games after a 66-point 2024-25 campaign. His first goal came with 6:08 remaining in the first period, and his second was a breakaway after stripping Tony DeAngelo at the blue line. Teammates praised his speed and shooting, with Ryan Leonard calling him "made in a laboratory" and coach Spencer Carbery saying he is just scratching the surface of his career.

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