Mark Stone’s latest injury had more to do with the busy schedule than any physicality.
The Vegas Golden Knights captain said the upper-body ailment that kept him out five games was more about his body handling wear-and-tear from the Winter Olympics.
“Nothing alarming at all,” Stone said. “Just needed a little bit of time to let the body recover more than anything.”
Stone returned to the lineup Thursday in the Knights’ 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He jumped right in with no issues, playing 17 minutes and 52 seconds, and was a plus-2.
Stone left late in the first period on March 1 against Pittsburgh after taking a light check from Penguins defenseman Kris Letang. The 33-year-old took the light contact and fell to one knee before slowly skating back to the bench.
Concern immediately went to Stone’s twice-surgically-repaired back. Stone said he suffered a strain on his side, attributing it to “wear and tear from a busy schedule.”
“It wasn’t super alarming, which was nice for once,” Stone said. “Probably from some pretty crazy travel coming back from Milan, going right into games. It was a quick turnaround.
“It was pretty comforting. I got right back into the gym, started rehabbing right away. Bounced back pretty quick. Nothing to be worried about at all.”
It didn’t look like Stone was going to play Thursday. He wore a red noncontact sweater at morning skate.
It’s uncommon for players being noncontact and be an option on gamedays. Stone not only took part in line rushes, but worked power play drills at the end of the skate.
He said he felt good enough to get back on the ice with his teammates. After testing it out and going through some more drills after the skate, he saw no point in staying off for long.
“Felt good (Thursday) to get back on the ice with the guys and felt really good in the skate,” Stone said. “No sense sitting around when you feel great. It was good to get back in.”
The Knights needed their captain and emotional leader back. The win Thursday was only the Knights’ third in nine games since returning from the Olympics.
Stone didn’t get on the scoresheet, but his return balanced out the rest of the forward group.
Tomas Hertl went back to second-line center in place of Mitch Marner, who returned to right wing. Marner and Pavel Dorofeyev factored on two of the Knights’ six goals. Hertl and Dorofeyev were each a plus-3.
Colton Sissons and Nic Dowd rounded out the center group and gave the Knights four natural centers in the lineup for the first time in recent memory.
“Calming presence, which is great as well in the locker room,” Marner said of Stone. “Getting him back is a big step for this team. He does so much for us on the ice, and off.”
Stone said his conditioning wasn’t where he liked it Thursday. He took part in the team’s optional practice Friday and is expected to be ready for Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The victory allowed the Knights to jump back to second place in the Pacific Division. Stone felt, from his bird’s-eye view from the press box, that his teammates “were just forcing stuff.”
His return could stabilize that for this stretch run.
“My body kind of turned a corner real quick as far as things went. I was ready to roll as far as playing,” Stone said. “I just think the conditioning was a little bit behind, so I feel pretty good now.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
Up next
Who: Blackhawks at Golden Knights
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: T-Mobile Arena
TV: KMCC-34
Radio: KFLG 94.7 FM/KKGK 1340 AM
Line: Knights -265; total 6 ½
