Aliaksei Protas looks to be ready for a return to the Washington Capitals’ lineup after a three-game absence with a lower-body injury.

Caps head coach Spencer Carbery labeled Protas a game-time decision ahead of the team’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night. The Belarusian winger was again a full participant in the team’s morning skate, and Carbery previously hinted that both Protas and Tom Wilson could dress on the current two-game road trip.

“We’ll find out [if Protas is good to go],” Carbery said pregame. “I’ll find out this afternoon.”

Protas was injured against the Ottawa Senators on January 1 after defenseman Artem Zub tripped him, sending him careening into the boards feet first. The Capitals have removed the 25-year-old forward from injured reserve, swapping him with Wilson, who is now on IR retroactively.

Wilson will not be ready in time to play in Chicago, as he has not taken contact in practice since suffering his injury last weekend. However, the 31-year-old winger did join his teammates for the morning skate, which was a step forward in his return progress as he had previously been coming off the ice before drills began.

Outside of Protas’s likely inclusion, the Capitals will also be making a change on defense. According to the Washington Post’s Bailey Johnson, Declan Chisholm will get a sweater for the first time since December 23, as Dylan McIlrath, who played just 6:07 of ice time on Wednesday, returns to the press box.

After injury scares at practice on Thursday, both Jakob Chychrun and Justin Sourdif will also be good to go on Friday night.

Projected Capitals lineup for 1/9 game against Blackhawks

McMichael

Sourdif

Leonard

Logan Thompson will get the start in net for the Capitals, coming off a 32-save loss to the Dallas Stars. Thompson has just one win in his last seven starts, going 0-2-1 in January with a 2.99 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage.

The Blackhawks, riding a four-game winning streak, will get superstar center Connor Bedard back from injury for the game. Bedard has 44 points (19g, 25a) in 31 games this season.