The Capitals winger has not played since Jan. 3.
For Washington Capitals forward Matthew Phillips, Thursday's game against the Florida Panthers carries a lot of weight.
Not only will his dad be in attendance for his first game in over a month, but it's a chance for him to show what he can do at the NHL level as he looks to hold onto a roster spot with Sonny Milano on the mend.
Phillips will go in for Nicolas Aube-Kubel, who will be a healthy scratch following a rough showing against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. He is expected to slot in on the identity fourth line alongside Beck Malenstyn and Nic Dowd, which has become a crucial role on the Capitals roster.
"Just an opportunity," Carbery told reporters of Phillips getting a game in. "I know it's been a while, and it's hard in these situations. But it's another chance for him to get into the lineup in a real important game against a really good hockey team and show that he's capable of playing at this level and excelling at this level."
After a stellar training camp landed him a spot on the opening night roster, the 5-foot-8 winger saw his consistency hit a bit of a wall as he navigated limited ice time. He has a goal and four assists through 26 outings while averaging just 10:20 minutes per game.
For Carbery, the hope is that Phillips will make the most of his opportunity, not so much in production, but in his play.
"He doesn't need to do anything out of the norm, he doesn't have to go save the world or anything like that, just looking for reliable minutes from him," Carbery said.