The Vegas Golden Knights suffered a significant blow during Game 3 of their second-round playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers. Captain Mark Stone was forced to leave the contest with an upper-body injury and was unable to return. This setback occurred with the Golden Knights already trailing 2-0 in the series, making the challenge of a comeback even steeper.
The incident took place during a busy first period. Stone was attempting to pressure Oilers forward Corey Perry when he lost his footing and slid towards the ice. The unfortunate motion resulted in Stone`s head colliding with Perry`s knee. Although he initially took a moment before returning to the bench, it became clear he was injured.
Following the collision, Stone went down the tunnel to the locker room for evaluation. He did not appear for the start of the second period, and shortly after, the team confirmed that their captain would be sidelined for the rest of the game.
Stone`s absence is particularly impactful due to his crucial role for the team. Beyond his leadership as captain, he has been the Golden Knights` most productive player in the current playoffs, scoring four goals in eight games. In the regular season, his 67 points ranked second on the squad, only behind Jack Eichel. Furthermore, Stone was arguably the most vital component of Vegas`s Stanley Cup-winning run in 2023, where he combined exceptional defensive play in tough assignments with high offensive output, tallying 24 points in 22 playoff games.
With Mark Stone now sidelined, the Golden Knights will need other players to elevate their performance. The burden on star forward Jack Eichel will increase, and players like Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev will be expected to step into more prominent roles to help offset the loss of their captain`s production and presence.
