Vegas Golden Knights’ captain Mark Stone will return to the lineup tonight as the team hopes to extend their winning streak to three games against the Dallas Stars.
Despite being out since Nov. 6, Stone is still third on the team in points with six goals and 21 points in 13 games. He’s also one of the five players currently averaging more than 1.5 points per game, and he is joined on the list by Martin Necas, Kirill Kaprizov, Nikita Kucherov, and Connor McDavid.
There are currently 5 players scoring more than 1.5 points per game:
Kaprizov
Stone
Necas
Kucherov
McDavidOn the PuckPedia Player Dashboard:https://t.co/5aWll4B2Ty
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The 32-year-old’s return to the lineup will be an added boost offensively and defensively but the Golden Knights have managed his absence better this year than they did in 2023-24. Prior to Stone’s injury, the Golden Knights were 9-3-1 and without him they are 8-4-2, maintaining their hold of first place in the Pacific Division.
The process for Stone to return has been long but the Golden Knights have smartly elected to be careful with his timetable. He’s dealt with long-term injuries for consecutive seasons and there is no reason to rush him back this early into the year. Stone first skated on a separate ice surface before joining the Golden Knights in a non-contact jersey. He missed the game that night and missed the following match despite practicing in full contact.
Related: Golden Knights Captain Returns To Practice In Non-Contact Uniform
Stone entered the year with the feeling that he still had a lot to prove and showed his eagerness to perform. He wants to be in the best position possible by the 4 Nations Face-Off and the postseason.
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