Golden Knights captain Mark Stone made a triumphant return to the lineup, scoring a power-play goal in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators on December 1, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena. After missing 16 games due to a wrist injury, Stone wasted no time reasserting his presence on the ice, contributing significantly to his team’s performance.
Stone’s goal came in a somewhat unconventional manner. After gathering the puck at the goal line, his first pass was mishandled, but a fortunate deflection off Senators center Tim Stutzle sent the puck into the net. Reflecting on the moment, Stone remarked, “You take it and run.” His celebration was characteristically energetic, as he leapt into the boards and slapped his hand against the glass, testing his previously injured wrist.
Playing nearly 20 minutes, Stone logged 19:58 of ice time, ranking third among forwards, and led the team with 2:17 of short-handed ice time. With this performance, he now boasts 14 points in just seven games this season. “Overall, I felt pretty good,” he said after the game. “Been able to skate quite a bit. Legs started to go a little bit toward the end of the game.”
Surprising Return and Preparation
Stone’s return was unexpected as he had not been skating with his teammates in the lead-up to the game. Instead, he practiced with the Henderson Silver Knights while the main roster played in Utah and Anaheim over the weekend. This preparation proved beneficial, as Stone noted, “I had a good time down there with the guys. Really helped expedite the process. Everything’s healed, I got the practices I needed, and I’m ready to go.”
Despite his injury issues over the past four years, Stone’s skating ability remained unaffected. Since the 2021-22 season, he has missed 142 games due to various injuries, including two back surgeries and a lacerated spleen. “Every injury is frustrating,” he admitted. “I don’t enjoy rehabbing. I’ve unfortunately gotten good at it. I understand the best way to go about it.”
New Line Combinations and Team Performance
In his comeback, Stone found himself on a new line alongside Brett Howden and Mitch Marner, who made his debut as a left winger. The trio showcased impressive chemistry, significantly contributing to the Knights’ possession game. According to Natural Stat Trick, they outshot the Senators 10-3 while on the ice, resulting in a 1-1 tie in goals.
Howden expressed confidence in Stone’s ability to quickly regain form, saying, “I don’t think [Stone] has ever had an issue of getting back up to speed. It’s unfortunate that he’s been out a handful of times in the years that I’ve been here, and every time he comes back, it seems like he doesn’t miss a beat.” Stone’s goal in the third period not only tied the game but also helped the Knights secure a point, even as they faced their seventh consecutive loss in extra time.
With the Knights currently one point behind the Anaheim Ducks in the Pacific Division, head coach Bruce Cassidy is hopeful about the team’s future. While Cassidy did not provide updates on other injured players, including William Karlsson and Adin Hill, Stone’s return is a welcome boost as the team navigates a demanding schedule ahead.
“Coming to the rink, it sucks rehabbing,” Stone shared candidly. “I’m just excited to get back and hopefully stay healthy, knock on wood for the 15th time.” The Golden Knights are set to face the Montreal Canadiens next, continuing a stretch of three games in four days, with the urgency of maintaining momentum in December, where they will play a total of 13 games.
For more updates, contact Danny Webster at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @DannyWebster21 for further coverage.