The Vegas Golden Knights are set to face the Boston Bruins without two key players, as announced by head coach Bruce Cassidy on Thursday. Forward Brett Howden and defenseman Noah Hanifin are both considered day-to-day and will not participate in the game.
Howden will miss his second straight game due to a lower-body injury, which means that Cole Reinhardt will remain in the lineup on the Golden Knights’ fourth line. Howden, who recorded a career-best 23 goals and 17 assists last season, has contributed one goal in three games so far this season.
On the defensive front, Hanifin is sidelined for the fourth consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury. His absence is notable, as he played a crucial role last season, ranking third among skaters in average ice time and tallying 10 goals and 29 assists for a total of 39 points. In his only appearance this season, Hanifin logged an impressive 24 minutes of ice time, just behind Shea Theodore. With Hanifin out, Ben Hutton will continue to fill in on the second defensive pairing alongside Zach Whitecloud.
The Golden Knights, who have reached the playoffs in four of their five seasons, including their championship win in 2023, are looking to rebound after a second-round exit last season against the eventual Stanley Cup runners-up, the Edmonton Oilers.
Tonight’s matchup marks the beginning of a three-game homestand for Vegas, with a home game against the Flames scheduled for Saturday, followed by a meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes next Monday. The Knights are eager to build momentum as they navigate the early part of the season.