Golden Knights must wait for return of top goal scorer
The Golden Knights must wait a little longer to get their top goal scorer back.
Left wing Max Pacioretty traveled with the team for its two-game road trip but will not be in the lineup Monday when the Knights face the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center, coach Pete DeBoer said following morning skate.
“Obviously, there’s a chance he’ll play on the trip, so I would term him day to day,” DeBoer said.
Forward Adam Brooks, who was claimed off waivers from Montreal on Wednesday, will make his first appearance with the Knights against St. Louis.
Pacioretty has been sidelined since Oct. 14 when he sustained a lower-body fracture in the second game of the season against the Los Angeles Kings.
He participated in the Knights’ morning skate Saturday prior to the game against Columbus but remains on injured reserve.
Pacioretty, who turned 33 on Saturday, had two goals and an assist in the season-opening victory against Seattle.
He topped the Knights with 24 goals last season and has a team-leading 58 goals in 121 games in the past three seasons.
Brooks’ debut was delayed while he secured a work visa. He was scheduled to arrive in St. Louis from Canada on Monday but got in a day early and was available to play.
“For me tonight I’m going to try to be good playing through contact, try to get the feet moving and just get up to speed with these guys,” Brooks said. “It’s obviously a quick team. You’ve got to play to that speed if you’re going to play here, so I better get going.”
Brooks is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and said he knew a handful of Knights players from there or junior hockey. He also played with Michael Amadio and Ben Hutton in Toronto. That familiarity should ease the transition to his new club.
Brooks, 25, appeared in four games with Montreal and had one assist. He was placed on waivers by Toronto prior to the start of the season.
In 22 career NHL games with the Canadiens and Maple Leafs, Brooks has four goals and nine points.
“We’re excited to see him,” DeBoer said. “He’s got NHL games under his belt. I think management is familiar with him. I’m excited right now for anybody with some experience, for us to be able to stick in there.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.