Tomas Nosek returns to practice for Golden Knights

Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek returned to practice Wednesday, one day after being removed from the NHL’s COVID-19-related absences list.

Nosek had been in the league’s COVID-19 protocols since Feb. 9, when he tested positive and was removed during the second intermission of the Knights’ game against the Anaheim Ducks. No players on either team entered the protocols after Nosek.

Coach Pete DeBoer didn’t say when Nosek would be ready to play again. The 28-year-old had been skating on his own before rejoining the team.

“We’ll see how that goes,” DeBoer said. “It was nice to have him back out there with us.”

With Nosek off the COVID-19 list, the Knights don’t have anyone on it for the first time since Jan. 27. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo appeared on the list Jan. 28 and came off it Feb. 9.

The NHL introduced new COVID-19 measures after Nosek’s positive test in the hopes of avoiding a similar situation midgame. That includes rapid testing for players on game days.

Nosek has one goal in 10 games. His second son, Matias, was born during his time away from the team.

Knights ready for fans

The Knights are ready to welcome back fans to T-Mobile Arena.

They’ve been approved to host 15 percent of capacity — approximately 2,600 people — for their seven March home games. The team released ticket information Tuesday.

“I’m super stoked,” center William Karlsson said. “It’s real good news.”

The Knights haven’t had fans at home since March 3. Some traveled to the team’s road games in Arizona on Jan. 22 and 24, at which limited crowds were allowed.

“It’s awesome,” defenseman Alec Martinez said. “Obviously, it’s been a lot different the last year or so without fans. It changes the feel in the building.”

Odds and ends

— The first period of the Knights’ outdoor game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday at Edgewood Tahoe Resort had 1.398 million viewers, according to NBC. That was 30 percent higher than the NHL’s average viewership on NBC last season, excluding the Winter Classic.

The second and third periods, which were aired on NBCSN after a lengthy delay, had 394,000 viewers. It was the league’s most-watched late-night regular-season game — one which starts at 7 p.m. Pacific time or later — since the Knights’ home opener against the Sharks last season.

— Right wing Reilly Smith was given a maintenance day and didn’t practice Wednesday after being hit in the face with a puck in Monday’s 3-0 win over Colorado.

“Nothing that’s going to keep him out of the lineup,” DeBoer said. “It didn’t make sense for him to skate today.”

— DeBoer said Robin Lehner (upper-body injury) continues to progress toward a return. He called Lehner doubtful for Thursday’s game at the San Jose Sharks before it was postponed.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.