"The Capitals appeared set to begin the 2025-26 season with just six healthy defensemen after Matt Roy (upper-body) and Dylan McIlrath (lower-body) were forced out of the club's preseason finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets - they did not practice on Monday - while Declan Chisholm suffered a scary skate cut to his leg at that very same practice. Surprisingly, all three defenders took to the ice for the Capitals' final full practice before opening their regular season against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night."
"Roy's inclusion in Tuesday's skate means the team will line up against the Bruins with all three of their regular defense pairings. Rasmus Sandin skated on the left of the second pair with Roy, a combination that saw the ice at five-on-five together for just over 392 minutes last season. In those minutes, the Capitals garnered 55.1 percent of the expected goals, 55.4 percent of the scoring chances, and 56.1 percent of the high-danger chances."
Matt Roy (upper-body), Dylan McIlrath (lower-body), and Declan Chisholm suffered preseason injuries that risked leaving the Capitals with only six healthy defensemen. All three skated in the final full practice before the opener; Roy and Chisholm were full participants while McIlrath wore a light blue no-contact jersey and remains on injured reserve. Coach Spencer Carbery had suggested Roy and McIlrath might miss a week or two but later confirmed Roy and Chisholm are available for the opener. Roy's return restores the team's three regular defensive pairings and improves lineup stability.
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