Golden Knights’ Robin Lehner, Zach Whitecloud start skating again

Two Golden Knights have started the process of returning to the lineup.

Coach Pete DeBoer said defenseman Zach Whitecloud and goaltender Robin Lehner skated Saturday, though neither practiced with the team. DeBoer said the two won’t play Sunday against the San Jose Sharks.

Whitecloud hasn’t played since Jan. 29 because of a broken bone in his foot. It’s his second major injury of the season, as he had surgery for a broken hand he suffered in October.

Whitecloud has been one of the Knights’ best defensemen when he’s on the ice. The 25-year-old has set a career high with six goals and tied his previous career best with 12 points in 31 games. He’s also a team-best plus-10 at five-on-five.

Lehner is recovering from an upper-body injury that has caused him to miss the past two games. He’s 19-13-1 as the team’s primary goaltender with a .907 save percentage and 2.86 goals-against average. He ranks 16th in the NHL in goals saved above expected at 7.2, according to the website MoneyPuck.

Center Nolan Patrick didn’t skate Saturday but was around the team at City National Arena. DeBoer said that was a “good sign” after Patrick took center Nathan MacKinnon’s shoulder to his face in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to Colorado.

Defenseman Alec Martinez was not with the Knights on Saturday. DeBoer said Friday that Martinez was “seeing specialists” as he works his way back from a facial laceration and COVID-19.

Standings drop

The Knights’ 0-2-1 record in their past three games — coupled with other teams making up games in hand — has caused them to fall from first to third in the Pacific Division standings by points percentage.

Calgary overtook them for first with its 6-0 win Feb. 8. Edmonton then passed the Knights for second on Saturday with a 4-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets.

“We’ve got to get back on the winning track,” defenseman Ben Hutton said.

The top of the standings has bunched up after the All-Star break. Seven points separated first-place Calgary (62) from fifth-place Anaheim (55) entering Saturday. Fourth-place Los Angeles was five points back of first after winning 4-3 in overtime Friday at T-Mobile.

“It’s going to be tight,” left wing Jonathan Marchessault said. “There’s a lot of good teams in the NHL and in our division as well. But at the same time, I don’t look at that. I look at our team, what we can do to be good.”

McNabb earns “A”

Defenseman Brayden McNabb has been one of the Knights’ alternate captains the past three games — along with regulars Reilly Smith and Alex Pietrangelo — with captain Mark Stone on long-term injured reserve.

DeBoer said Saturday that McNabb will keep the “A” with Stone out. The team rotated who wore the letter when the captain was hurt at the beginning of the season, with McNabb, Martinez, Marchessault and center William Karlsson getting a turn.

Left wing Max Pacioretty and center Chandler Stephenson also have worn an “A” this season.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.