Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone has been cleared to apply after struggling a lacerated spleen earlier this season, according to an announcement from the team. Stone is collaborating in Friday’s morning skate with the Golden Knights and can put on a non-contact jersey.
Stone has been out of the lineup since he suffered a lacerated spleen on account of successful throughout the second interval of the Feb. 20 sport towards the Nashville Predators. On the time of Stone’s damage, Golden Knights normal supervisor Kelly McCrimmon did not supply a timetable for Stone’s return to the ice.
The Vegas captain registered 53 factors (16 targets & 37 assists) in 56 video games earlier than the damage.
“Our aim proper now could be to get in to see if we will get a wholesome lineup dressed,” Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy stated on Wednesday. “That is nonetheless an enormous query mark with quite a lot of totally different guys, that I am unable to offer you solutions to once they’ll be able to go. That is what our crew is taking a look at proper now. There’s mild on the finish of the tunnel. If we discover our means in [to the playoffs], we’ll be seeded the place we find yourself seeded after which if you will get a couple of wholesome our bodies again, it would carry form of, ‘The band’s again collectively’ mentality from final 12 months. I feel that is what’s given us motivation.”
The Golden Knights handled an analogous state of affairs heading into the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Stone had suffered a again damage in February 2023, however ended up returning for the crew’s opening-round collection towards the Winnipeg Jets.
En path to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup, Stone completed third on the crew in factors (24) behind solely Conn Smythe winner Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel. In Sport 5 of the Stanley Cup Closing, Stone registered a hat trick and have become solely the third NHL participant to ever accomplish that in a Stanley Cup-clinching state of affairs.
If Stone returns for the postseason, it will be an enormous addition for a Vegas crew that’s presently battling for its playoff lives. The Golden Knights will clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Minnesota Wild on Friday, and a St. Louis Blues to the Carolina Hurricanes.
