WASHINGTON — Aliaksei Protas scored twice, and the Washington Capitals defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-1 on Sunday night. The victory propelled the Capitals back to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Protas, who has been filling the void left by Alex Ovechkin’s absence due to a broken leg, delivered an impressive performance, with both goals adding to his growing tally. His second multi-goal game of the season helped him match his career-high of 29 points, achieved in fewer games than last season.
Jakub Vrana also contributed to the victory, scoring his sixth goal of the season to help restore the Capitals’ lead after Kevin Fiala’s power-play goal for the Kings. Pierre-Luc Dubois had a standout performance, notching two assists to extend his point streak to three games. Dubois has been a key offensive presence for Washington in December, leading the team in scoring for the month.
Logan Thompson, the Capitals’ goaltender, made 25 saves, advancing his record to 13-2-2 on the season. In contrast, the Kings’ David Rittich stopped 18 shots but could not secure the win, dropping to 10-8 for the season.
The Kings struggled with their power play, ranking among the league’s worst before Fiala’s goal ended a six-game drought. Despite the goal, the Kings have now lost three of their last four games, including their first back-to-back losses of the season.
Washington responded well after conceding an early power-play goal to Fiala, with Vrana’s quick answer providing the Capitals with the advantage. The win was crucial for Washington as they maintain their lead in the competitive Eastern Conference.
The Capitals will face Boston in their final game before the Christmas break, while the Kings will return from a week off to host Edmonton on Saturday.
For more about NHL standings, player performances, and upcoming games, visit NHL Stats.
