Knights captain returns to practice with playoffs looming

There was captain Mark Stone stepping onto the ice with the team in a no-contact jersey for the first time since injuring his back Jan. 12. His first lap at City National Arena led to cheers from fans.

Three goaltenders were rotating between two nets with the Knights starting to inch toward full health in the crease. There wasn’t even room for two-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick, who worked on his own before practice.

The Knights also had two of their best players — center Jack Eichel and defenseman Shea Theodore — watching from above as they work to return from injuries.

There was too much going on to keep track of. And it all took place before the Knights’ final two games of the regular season against the playoff-bound Seattle Kraken on Tuesday and Thursday, which will determine the Knights’ final place in the standings and first playoff opponent.

“It’s good to be challenged like that at the end of the season,” left wing Reilly Smith said. “Sometimes you can ride a wave going into the playoffs. You’re not really playing the best competition, and sometimes it bites you as soon as you get to the first game. We don’t have any room to lay off our game.”

Stone’s presence on the ice, even with a blue jersey and blue socks telling teammates to give him space, gave the Knights a boost heading into their closing stretch.

He has missed the past 37 games after undergoing back surgery Jan. 31, his second procedure in eight months. He also had a lumbar discectomy May 19 after sitting out 45 games last season.

Coach Bruce Cassidy didn’t provide a timeline for when Stone could appear in a game, but did say the Knights can have hope now that the 30-year-old is skating with the team again.

Stone is one of the best two-way players in the NHL. He has scored 38 points in 43 games this season while sporting a plus-12 rating at five-on-five, which is still tied for the team’s fifth-best mark.

“To see him out there today, it makes a big impact,” center Nicolas Roy said. “We’re pretty happy that he’s coming back soon.”

The Knights are still working through the rest of their injury list before playing the Kraken.

Eichel is out Tuesday with a lower-body injury that also kept him from appearing in Saturday’s 2-1 shootout loss to Dallas. Theodore won’t play, either, but Cassidy did say the 27-year-old is skating again. That’s a positive sign given Theodore has missed the past six games with an undisclosed injury.

Defenseman Zach Whitecloud, who was hurt when Stars center Roope Hintz crashed into his left leg Saturday, also will miss Tuesday’s game. Cassidy said he doesn’t think Whitecloud will be out long term based on what he’s heard.

The Knights are also managing an injury situation in the crease.

Goaltender Laurent Brossoit got his own net at Monday’s practice to prepare for the Kraken. Goaltenders Logan Thompson and Adin Hill shared another one as they try to return from lower-body injuries.

Thompson has played once since Feb. 9. Hill has been out since March 7. Hill did make one appearance for the Silver Knights on a conditioning loan Friday, stopping 18 of 21 shots in a planned 40-minute start.

How the Golden Knights handle their four goaltenders remains a question. For now, the team will focus on its home-and-home series with the Kraken and the chance to lock up its third division title in six seasons.

The Knights are still trying to fend off Edmonton for the Pacific crown as well as Colorado and Dallas for the best record in the Western Conference.

There are five teams they could face in the first round depending on how they finish.

One of those clubs is Seattle, which clinched its first playoff appearance in its second season. The others are Calgary, Nashville, Los Angeles and Winnipeg.

“It’s no secret what’s going on with the jockeying of spots and all that in the West,” defenseman Alec Martinez said. “Big four points coming up.”

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