ELMONT, N.Y. -- Aliaksei Protas is already starting to prove that last season's 30-goal output wasn't a fluke, and perhaps that number should be the baseline expectation for the towering forward.

The 24-year-old scored his first two goals of this season in the Washington Capitals’ 4-2 win against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Saturday. He could have had at least four if not for Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin and the left post.

He has four points (two goals, two assists) in Washington's first two games after scoring 30 goals and getting 66 points in 76 games last season. None of those 30 goals came on the power play; three were short-handed.

It was a massive jump from his six goals and 29 points in 78 games in 2023-24.

"Made in a laboratory," Capitals rookie forward Ryan L

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