Golden Knights top line potentially dealt serious blow

The Golden Knights apical enactment perchance took a superior stroke 2 games into the season.

Left helping Max Pacioretty is expected to beryllium retired for astir six weeks, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday. Pacioretty lone had 5 shifts successful Thursday’s 6-2 nonaccomplishment to the Los Angeles Kings and respective times appeared to beryllium skating successful evident discomfort.

Captain Mark Stone exited the aforesaid crippled successful the 2nd play and didn’t return. Coach Pete DeBoer said Stone was dealing with a nagging wounded antecedently that didn’t forestall him from playing. DeBoer did not person an update connected Stone’s presumption aft the game.

Pacioretty, 32, has been the Knights’ starring extremity scorer the erstwhile 2 seasons. His 58 goals since the commencement of 2019-20 fertile ninth successful the NHL.

Stone, 29, was the Knights’ starring scorer past play with 61 points successful 55 games. He’s considered 1 of the champion two-way forwards successful the NHL and was ninth successful the Hart Trophy voting past year. He besides finished 3rd for the Selke Trophy for champion antiaircraft forward.

The injuries are the latest stroke to a guardant radical that’s been bushed up this preseason. Centers Nicolas Roy and Brett Howden are connected injured reserve, near helping William Carrier is successful concussion protocol and near helping Mattias Janmark is successful COVID-19 protocol. Right helping Alex Tuch began the play connected semipermanent injured reserve aft having enarthrosis country successful the offseason.

Contact Ben Gotz astatine bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz connected Twitter.