Aliaksei Protas and Ilya Protas scored again on the same night - a feat we've nicknamed a Dueling Goaltas. The Pro Bros both lit the lamp on Friday, January 23, in their respective games for the Washington Capitals and Hershey Bears. The January 23 event marked the second time this season they've scored on the same day. It came eight days after Ilya, 19, was named an AHL All-Star and learned of the nod from his older brother, Aliaksei, six years his senior.
Is there more than 100%? he asked with a laugh after backstopping the U.S. past Germany in the round-robin finale. I feel good. It's pretty hot out there. I'm sweating a lot now I have to stand around and do a bunch of (interviews), so I'm going to chill now. I guess I'm at 99% right now as we speak. But, yeah, I feel good out there.
They are just comfortable with each other. Everything that we've been doing - it is a year later, but the guys remember, obviously. It was a pretty complete effort. I thought every line contributed: the defense, right through to the goalie. It was one of those games where you weren't sure what was going on early, and then a couple of the big boys - Wilson and Bennett - really kind of physically pushed that game a bit in our direction.
The Washington Capitals' number-one netminder has been tabbed to start for Team Canada in their second game at the 2026 Winter Olympics against Switzerland. Former Caps goalie Darcy Kuemper will back Thompson up. Thompson gets the nod after he backed up Jordan Binnington in Canada's 5-0 win over Czechia on Thursday. Binnington made 26 saves in the shutout victory, rewarding head coach Jon Cooper for his predetermined faith in the St. Louis Blues backstop.
The contest was not without some drama, as the first period included two successful coach's challenges from Latvia that wiped U.S. goals off the board. After that, however, the ice seemed to tilt the Americans' way, and goals from Tage Thompson, Auston Matthews and a pair from Brock Nelson were the difference. Here's what we learned in the opener, along with an overall team grade and big questions to ponder prior to Team USA's matchup against Denmark on Saturday.
But the NHL's withdrawal just six weeks before the tournament began improved Slovakia's chances, and with some clutch performances, Regenda and his teammates captured the Bronze Medal, setting off parties and celebrations upon their return to Bratislava. We felt like superstars, which we actually were at that time, Regenda said. It was the first medal ever for Slovakia in hockey. We are forever in history.
