Matt Roy played just two periods for the Washington Capitals against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night.
Roy played 14:22 of ice time through the first 40 minutes of regulation but did not rejoin Washington’s bench after the second intermission. The Capitals then announced that Roy had suffered a lower-body injury and would not return to the game.
“Lower-body, we’ll get him evaluated when we get back to DC,” head coach Spencer Carbery said postgame.
The veteran rearguard ended his final shift with 5:04 remaining in the second period. No obvious moment of injury occurred, and Roy returned to the bench after Jakob Chychrun and Pontus Holmberg were whistled for matching unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalties.
Roy, recently named one of the team’s alternate captains, led Washington in ice time (22:28) in their season-opening victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. In 79 games last season, Roy recorded 19 points (2g, 17a) and played primarily with his high-scoring partner, Chychrun.
The Capitals have the day off on Sunday and then will be back at MedStar Capitals Iceplex for two straight days of practice on Monday and Tuesday. Their next game, their home opener at Capital One Arena, comes against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night.
