The Capitals blueliner has missed the last five games with a lower-body injury.
The Washington Capitals will be taking things on the road again, and while defenseman Matt Roy is making progress, the team will have to wait a bit longer before he is ready to return.
Head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters on Friday that Roy will not travel to Tampa for the weekend road trip, but that he is back skating. He skated before practice and worked with the goalies, but has not gotten into any team practice yet.
Roy was injured in Washington's season-opening loss to the New Jersey Devils in the second period. It's unclear exactly what happened, but the ailment was a lower-body injury that's kept him out for the last five games.
With Roy out, Dylan McIlrath has slotted into the mix, skating on the second pairing with Martin Fehervary.
Getting the 29-year-old back in the mix will be huge for the Capitals, who have won five straight games. Roy, who signed a six-year contract to join Washington this offseason, is a shutdown right-handed blueliner who can also move the puck effectively up ice.
The Capitals face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday before heading back home for a Tuesday meeting with the New York Rangers.
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