Golden Knights captain will avoid surgery after injury
Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer said it was “good news, for the most part.”
DeBoer said Tuesday that captain Mark Stone does not need surgery for the lower-body injury he suffered Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings. The news came after Stone visited additional doctors Monday.
It’s still unclear when the 29-year-old right wing will play again. DeBoer said Stone is considered “in between day to day and week to week” as the Knights’ schedule resumes Wednesday against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena.
Stone’s injury is the latest blow to a forward group that also is without left wing Max Pacioretty, who is week to week after sustaining a lower-body fracture against the Kings.
“It’s tough for us,” center Nicolas Roy said. “Obviously, it’s probably our two best players. Some guys are going to have to step up, and there’s going to be opportunities there. Some guys have to take them and work hard there.”
Stone was the team’s leading scorer last season with 61 points in 55 games. He finished ninth in the Hart Trophy voting for NHL MVP and third for the Selke Trophy for best defensive forward. He had three assists in the Knights’ season-opening win over the Seattle Kraken.
Stone’s and Pacioretty’s absences changes the dynamic of the team’s forwards, but help appears to be on the way. Roy, center Brett Howden and left wing William Carrier practiced for the second straight day Tuesday after missing the first two games with injuries. Roy was a full participant after wearing a noncontact jersey Monday and said he’s “ready to go.”
The team also called up rookies Peyton Krebs and Jake Leschyshyn from the Silver Knights.
The Golden Knights come out of their five-day break with a tough stretch, featuring four straight games against teams that made the playoffs last season.
“Obviously, with our two big guys out like that, we’re going to have to win games different ways,” defenseman Zach Whitecloud said. “I think we’re a team that can do that. We have the personnel and the depth to do that.”
Brisson honored
Brendan Brisson, the Knights’ 2019 first-round pick, was named the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week for the second straight time Tuesday.
The sophomore right wing, who turns 20 on Friday, had two game-winning goals and an assist in Michigan’s weekend victories over No. 5 Minnesota-Duluth and No. 1 Minnesota State. His efforts helped the star-studded Wolverines ascend to No. 1 (45 of 50 first-place votes) in the latest United States College Hockey Online poll.
Brisson, who has five goals and three assists in four games, is one of seven first-round picks on Michigan’s roster, an NCAA record.
Blues player suspended
Blues right wing Pavel Buchnevich was suspended two games Tuesday for head-butting Arizona left wing Lawson Crouse.
Buchnevich will miss Wednesday’s game against the Knights as part of his punishment. The 26-year-old has a goal and an assist in two games in his first year in St. Louis after an offseason trade with the New York Rangers. He had 20 goals and 28 assists in 54 games with the Rangers last season.
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.
