Matt Roy skates on his own before Capitals practice, will not travel with team to play Lightning

The Washington Capitals continue to see progress from defenseman Matt Roy as he works his way back from the lower-body injury he suffered against the New Jersey Devils in the season’s first game.

Head coach Spencer Carbery shared an update on the 29-year-old blueliner after practice on Friday. Washington will be headed south to play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

“Will not travel to Tampa,” Carbery said. “He was on the ice today, did goalie ice and that, but nothing team-wise.”

Roy has reportedly been on the ice by himself for a short while now and is expected to rejoin his teammates at practice potentially as soon as they get back from Florida. Tarik El-Bashir shared Wednesday night that Roy could play in one of Washington’s three games at home over the next eight days.

The right-handed defender played just 8:39 of ice time in his Capitals debut against the Devils before heading to the locker room and not returning. Washington signed him to a six-year, $34.5 million deal in free agency this past summer.

During their five-game winning streak, Dylan McIlrath has replaced Roy to the right of Martin Fehervary in the team’s lineup. The club also has rearguard Alex Alexeyev in reserve, yet to make his season debut. McIlrath’s early-season success has kept Alexeyev in the press box.

“That’s maybe been the one – outside of some things inside of our game – negative of us being able to go on this last little stretch of wins,” Carbery said. “We haven’t really been able to get Alexeyev and [Sonny] Milano involved. Which, they understand. We’re playing well. We’re winning games, so they’re just – they’ve been great. Both guys working extremely hard and waiting for their opportunity to get in the lineup.”

Alexeyev played in 39 games last year, while Milano played in 49 and was in the lineup for the season-opening loss to New Jersey. Jakub Vrana has since replaced Milano on the club’s third line.

The Capitals will play the Lightning on Saturday and then return home for three straight games against the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Columbus Blue Jackets. The team is scheduled to have the day off on Sunday, so the first indication of Roy’s status for next week will come at practice on Monday.