LAS VEGAS — With Mark Stone, it’s unfortunately not a case of will he be injured during the season but more like, when will he get hurt? And how long will he be out?
Once again, the Vegas Golden Knights captain is on the shelf, this time with what appears to be a wrist injury suffered in the third period of Vegas’ 6-1 win over Calgary last Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. He was pronounced to be out “week-to-week” by coach Bruce Cassidy prior to Monday’s contest against Carolina. In Knights-speak, that could mean quite a while.
The Knights managed to survive despite the absence of their captain, who was placed on injured reserve as they defeated the Hurricanes 4-1. But it was a costly victory as Vegas sustained yet another injury. This time, it was goaltender Adin Hill, who was hurt midway thorough the opening period.
Hill extended his left leg making a save and had to be helped off the ice. Akira Schmid took Hill’s place for the second time in a week after Hill was hurt last Tuesday in the first period against Calgary and did not return.
Coach Bruce Cassidy said he’d know more about Hill’s situation Tuesday. The Knights don’t play against until Saturday when they face the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.
“It’s an opportunity for other people to come in and it’s good to see guys take advantage of their opportunities,” Cassidy said. “I thought Schmid came in and played well.”
Hill’s injury adds to a growing list of wounded on the Vegas roster. The Knights are still without defenseman Noah Hanifin, forward Brett Howden, along with Stone and probably Hill for the immediate future.
There was fear that Stone would be in trouble last Thursday when he went head-first into the boards in the third period against Boston. But he came back and finished the game and said he was fine. On Saturday, he got tangled up with the Flames’ Connor Zary in the neutral zone, tripped and fell. He made it back to the bench, but then went down the tunnel to the locker room and did not return.
The Knights list Stone as having an upper-body injury. If it is his wrist, is it broken? Is it sprained? If it’s sprained, how severe is it?
Hockey players rely heavily on their wrists to control their stick and to help shoot the puck. Wrist injuries can take a while to recover from, depending on the severity.
“It sucks,” Cassidy said at the morning skate Monday when asked for an update on Stone, who has never played an entire season during his time with Vegas, which acquired him in 2019. “It really does for him. I feel for him. He’s always bounced back well; that’s the good news, when we do get him back. Whether that’s the short-, medium- or long- term, we don’t know yet.”
Stone was off to a great start, having scored two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in six games. His output is second only to Jack Eichel’s 15 points.
Veteran winger Brandon Saad was taking Stone’s spot on the top line Monday against the Hurricanes. Playing with Eichel and Ivan Barbashev, it’s a great opportunity for Saad, who had failed to register a point in six games thus far, to contribute offensively. He had six goals in 29 games last year for the Knights after being acquired from St. Louis last January.
He contributed right away Monday, assisting on Eichel’s sixth goal of the year in the first period and he looked comfortable skating with both Eichel and Barbashev.
“It’s a tough loss,” Saad said of not having Stone in the lineup. “But I’m just trying to do my job, help fill a hole.”
Barbashev, whose third-period goal made it 3-1, said Saad did fine.
“He’s really easy to play with,” he said of Saad, who logged 16:07 of ice time Monday and had four of Vegas’ 25 shots on goal. “He keeps things simple and he’s always around the puck.”
But the good news about Saad was dampened by the bad news about Hill. Still, Schmid, who made 23 saves of the 24 shots he faced, looked very strong in relief and it was a confidence booster as Vegas prepares to hit the road for what figures to be three tough games against the Panthers, Tampa Bay and a rematch in Raleigh next week against the Canes.
“I’m comfortable going into games,” Schmid said. “I try not to overthink it. If I have to go in, I make sure I’m ready.”
He was certainly ready Monday. So was Saad. As a result, Carolina is no longer the only undefeated team left in the NHL.