Capitals Defeat Penguins 6-3, Protas Scores First NHL Goal

Rookie forward Ilya Protas nets his milestone goal in the victory over Pittsburgh.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:14pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the movements and action of a hockey game, with players and the puck represented as sharp, angular shapes in a palette of navy, crimson, and silver.A cubist interpretation of the action on the ice as the Capitals and Penguins battle for a crucial divisional win.Today in Pittsburgh

The Washington Capitals defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3 on Saturday night, with rookie forward Ilya Protas scoring his first career NHL goal in the win. The game was played at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.

Why it matters

The Capitals' victory over their division rival Penguins is an important result in the tight Metropolitan Division playoff race. Protas' first NHL goal is a milestone moment for the young player as he establishes himself at the professional level.

The details

Protas, a 2019 third-round draft pick, scored the Capitals' fifth goal of the game in the third period to extend their lead. Washington got goals from five different players, including tallies from veterans Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov. Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs made 26 saves in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The players

Ilya Protas

A rookie forward for the Washington Capitals who scored his first career NHL goal in the game.

Alex Ovechkin

A veteran forward and captain of the Washington Capitals.

Evgeny Kuznetsov

A veteran forward for the Washington Capitals.

Arturs Silovs

The goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Brandon Duhaime

A forward for the Washington Capitals.

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What they’re saying

“It's always special to score your first NHL goal. I'm glad I could help the team get the win tonight.”

— Ilya Protas, Washington Capitals Forward

What’s next

The Capitals and Penguins will meet again on April 18th in Washington D.C. for their final regular season matchup.

The takeaway

Ilya Protas' first NHL goal is an exciting milestone for the young player and the Capitals, who continue to get contributions from their depth players in a tight divisional race.