Aliaksei Protas now has three goals in his first four games, and his latest was a highlight-reel tally.

Protas was the beneficiary of a fantastic individual play by Connor McMichael against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. After racing to a puck first near the corner boards, McMichael did a twister pass to a wide-open Protas on Andrei Vasilevskiy’s shortside. The heads-up feed gave the Belorussian forward a layup as Vasilevskiy was fooled by McMichael thinking he would wrap around Tampa Bay’s net.

“Yeah, I mean obviously great play all around,” Protas told Monumental Sports Network’s Al Koken after the second period. “Started from breakout, and I think this play from Mikes, I mean, oh god, my mom would score from that.”

To celebrate, Protas immediately reached up to his helmet in disbelief at how perfect McMichael’s pass was.

“That’s just unbelievable,” Protas added. “He did like everything for me. That’s a great work by everyone, started from D-zone, but this play, it’s unbelievable.”

Protas’s OMG salute to McMichael, however, was not as appreciated as one might think.

“He kinda embarrassed me,” McMichael said postgame smiling. “He’s done a lot of cooler things to me so far this year. I mean, anytime I can help a teammate score like that, it’s good.”

The nifty feed was McMichael’s first point of the season after the 24-year-old forward was held scoreless in the first three games on the schedule. McMichael has played center in the past two games, forced back down the middle on Tuesday due to Pierre-Luc Dubois sitting out with an injury.

“I was just going into the corner and then I did a quick shoulder check and I saw Pro coming late,” McMichael said. “It worked out and I’m really happy he found a way to put it in.”

McMichael centered the team’s second line against the Lightning, playing between Protas and Tom Wilson. Spencer Carbery used the unit in a direct line matchup against Tampa Bay’s top trio featuring superstar Nikita Kucherov.

Protas’ marker came after the Capitals had been held off the scoresheet by Vasilevskiy for the first 37:38 of the matchup. Tom Wilson, who would later score a goal of his own, earned the other assist on the tally.

Protas leads the Capitals with five points (3g, 2a) in four games this season. The 24-year-old winger posted a career-best 66 points (30g, 36a) in 76 games last year. He’s currently projected to smash that career year with 103 points (59g, 44a) if he played a full 82-game season.

As for why he mentioned his mom, who’s now a grandmother, on the telecast?

“[It’s] Mother’s Day at home so that’s for them,” Protas said. “It was great to score.”