Mark Stone, the captain of the Vegas Golden Knights, left Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers late in the first period due to an injury. He was unable to play in the final six minutes of the first frame and did not return after the first intermission. The Golden Knights announced midway through the second period that he would miss the remainder of the game.
Despite Stone’s absence, the Golden Knights managed to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory, overcoming a 2-0 deficit with a last-minute goal. Following the game, head coach Bruce Cassidy indicated that Stone’s condition is day to day but has not ruled him out for Game 4 on Monday. The team anticipates providing an update on his status on Sunday.
The injury occurred during one of Stone’s last shifts when he fell while attempting to make a sharp turn. Edmonton’s Corey Perry inadvertently collided with him, which may have affected Stone’s hand or arm.
In the playoff series, Stone has made significant contributions, tallying four goals and four assists over eight-plus games. Notably, he was second on the team during the regular season with 67 points, scoring 19 goals in 66 games. Stone, who turns 33 on Tuesday, has been a pivotal player for the Golden Knights since joining the team in the 2018-19 season and was part of the squad that won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
Additionally, the team was also missing forward Brandon Saad, who is sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained in Game 2.
As the Golden Knights look ahead to Game 4, the hope is that Stone’s injury will not keep him off the ice for long, as his leadership and skill are invaluable to the team’s playoff success.