The Washington Capitals will embark on their annual western road trip on Wednesday, which will feature stops in Arizona on Thursday, Las Vegas on Saturday and Denver next Tuesday. Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas will also be making the trip with the team.

Spotted in the Caps-Wild press box: Aliaksei Protas.

He will be headed with the Capitals on their three-game road trip that starts Thursday @ Arizona. (also Saturday @ Vegas and Tuesday @ Colorado).

— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) January 18, 2023

Protas’ inclusion in the trip is related to the injury that Nic Dowd sustained in Monday night’s game against the Islanders in New York. Dowd left the game early in the first period with a lower body injury and did not return. Dowd also missed Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild. It looks to like he will be out for some time.

“He’s going to be out for a bit. He’s still getting evaluations, but you won’t see him tonight. He’ll be a little bit. There will probably be more terminology later,” said Laviolette on Tuesday afternoon.

Protas, 22, has recorded 10 points (3g, 7a) in 41 games with Washington this season. The 6’6″, 235-pound forward has recorded a 54.7 shot attempt percentage at five-on-five (444 shot attempts for, 367 shot attempts against) this season, which is the second-highest rate on the team.

Protas, who is waivers-exempt, has three assists in five games played for the Hershey Bears so far this season, since being sent down from Washington on January 7.

Protas practiced with the Bears this Tuesday morning before traveling to Washington. He has not been officially recalled from the Hershey Bears, but is already in Washington. Expect an official announcement and possibly more news on Dowd sometime on Wednesday.

The Bears hit the road for a two-game set in Canada this weekend, beginning on Friday against the Rocket in Laval.

By Jon Sorensen