Max Pacioretty has been skating on his own, Pete DeBoer says
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Golden Knights remain tight-lipped regarding the status of injured left wing Max Pacioretty.
But coach Pete DeBoer did offer one glimmer of hope Wednesday that the team’s leading scorer could return soon when asked whether Pacioretty has skated on his own during the West Division first-round playoff series.
“Max is skating,” DeBoer said after the morning skate. “I’m just going to leave it at that.”
Pacioretty was not in the lineup for Game 6 against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center and has not appeared in a game since he left after the second period of the May 1 game at Arizona.
He missed the final six regular-season games, and Knights majority owner Bill Foley said May 11 that Pacioretty is dealing with an upper-body injury.
The Knights have listed Pacioretty, who had a team-best 24 goals in the regular season, as a game-time decision throughout the series even though he hasn’t practiced or participated in a morning skate the entire month.
Pacioretty was not on the ice for the team’s morning skate Wednesday and presumably is skating on his own at City National Arena, rather than in Minnesota.
Forward Tomas Nosek also did not participate in the morning skate and remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury he sustained early in Game 2. Ryan Reaves also was scratched for an undisclosed reason and replaced in the lineup by Cody Glass, who made his playoff debut.
McNabb on COVID list
Defenseman Brayden McNabb was included on the NHL’s list of COVID protocol-related absences before Game 6.
McNabb missed Game 4 for undisclosed reasons and returned for Game 5 but didn’t take a shift in the final 8:54.
In addition to a confirmed positive test, players can be on the list for an unconfirmed positive test, quarantine as a high-risk close contact or for mandated isolation if they are symptomatic.
Not-so-hostile territory
The road team won four of the first five games in the series, and it’s a leaguewide trend in the first round of the NHL playoffs.
In the series between Montreal and Toronto, the visiting team is 3-1. Tampa Bay and Florida saw the road team win the first three games before the home team answered back in the past two matchups. Also, three of the five games involving the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh have gone to the road team.
The only series that hasn’t seen a road victory is Nashville-Carolina.
“I think the lack of full capacity buildings and that environment for sure makes it a little bit easier,” DeBoer said. “That’s the only thing I can think of. You just got to get ready and be prepared to do whatever it takes from puck drop, wherever you are.”
Minor leaguers honored
Silver Knights goaltender Logan Thompson and defenseman Ryan Murphy were voted to the 2020-21 Pacific Division all-star team.
Thompson appeared in 23 regular-season games, leading all American Hockey League goaltenders with a .943 save percentage. He was second overall with a 1.96 goals-against average and topped all rookies with 16 wins.
Murphy, who was named captain late in the regular season, led all AHL defensemen with 22 assists and 27 points.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.
