The Washington Capitals are heading into Tuesday night’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken a bit shorthanded on the blue line. Both Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin are dealing with lower-body injuries and have been ruled out, listed as day-to-day. It’s a tough break for a Capitals defense corps that’s already been tested this season.
Head coach Spencer Carbery described the situation as both players being “a little bit banged up,” which, in hockey terms, usually means they’re not quite ready to go but aren’t expected to miss significant time either. Still, their absence leaves a noticeable gap in Washington’s back end-especially considering how things unfolded in their last outing.
Saturday’s wild 6-5 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers saw the Capitals finish the game with just five defensemen. Sandin exited late in the first period after taking a hit and blocking a shot, and Roy logged heavy minutes trying to help carry the load. It was a gritty effort, but the toll it took is now showing up on the injury report.
There was some concern around other names as well-Declan Chisholm and Tom Wilson were also said to be nursing minor issues-but both are expected to be available for Tuesday’s game. That’s good news, especially in Wilson’s case. His physical presence and leadership are always a boost, particularly when the team’s depth is being tested.
With Roy and Sandin sidelined, the Capitals will likely need to lean on their younger blueliners and depth call-ups. That means more minutes for guys like Martin Fehervary and Trevor van Riemsdyk, and potentially an increased role for Chisholm if he’s indeed good to go.
This isn’t an ideal situation for Washington, especially against a Kraken team that thrives on forechecking pressure and offensive zone time. But it’s also a chance for the Caps’ depth to step up and show they can weather the storm. Injuries are part of the grind, and how teams respond to them often separates contenders from pretenders.
For now, the Capitals will have to patch things together and hope Roy and Sandin’s absences are short-lived. In a tight Eastern Conference race, every point matters-and every healthy body counts.