TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 08: Ilya Protas #62 of the Washington Capitals skates with the puck in his first career NHL game against Jake McCabe #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period at Scotiabank Arena on April 08, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 08: Ilya Protas #62 of the Washington Capitals skates in his first career NHL shift against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first period at Scotiabank Arena on April 08, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 08: Ilya Protas #62 of the Washington Capitals takes the opening face-off in his first career NHL game against John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on April 08, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 08: Ilya Protas #62 of the Washington Capitals takes a rookie lap prior to playing in his first NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on April 08, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 08: Ilya Protas #62 of the Washington Capitals takes a rookie lap prior to playing in his first NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on April 08, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 08: Ilya Protas #62 of the Washington Capitals takes a rookie lap prior to playing in his first NHL game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on April 08, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 6: Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff addresses the media following an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center on April 6, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo won, 4-2. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images)

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 6: Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff addresses the media following an NHL game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center on April 6, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo won, 4-2. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images)