According to Field Level Media’s preview of tonight’s Red Wings-Vegas Golden Knights game (10 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit/ATT Sportsnet West/Sportsnet East/Sportsnet Ontario/Sportsnet Pacific/97.1 FM), the Vegas Golden Knights, who stand at 9-7-and-0 after Tuesday’s 4-2 loss to Carolina, have COVID issues:
Despite having to deal with a never-ending rash of injuries and illnesses, Vegas Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer remains upbeat heading into Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings in Las Vegas.
The Golden Knights found out before Tuesday’s 4-2 home loss to Carolina that forward Jonathan Marchessault, who leads the team with nine goals, had entered COVID protocol joining forward William Carrier who was placed there on Monday.
The Golden Knights, who are 8-3 in their last 11 games, were already without key players like left wing Max Pacioretty (fractured left foot), center William Karlsson (broken foot), center Nolan Patrick (upper body), and defensemen Zach Whitecloud (hand surgery) and Alec Martinez (facial laceration).
Defenseman Shea Theodore left Tuesday’s loss after losing an edge and crashing into the end boards and Evgenii Dadonov also left with a facial laceration after getting hit in the face with a stick. The team added forward Michael Amadio to COVID protocol on Wednesday and also canceled its planned media availability.
Vegas is also without center Jack Eichel, obtained in a trade with Buffalo on Nov. 4, until the end of the February after he underwent artificial disc replacement surgery in his neck on Nov. 12.
“You’ve got to look for a silver lining,” DeBoer said after Tuesday’s loss. “Hopefully the silver lining is we’ll deal with it now and maybe we’ll get a little luck in the injury front down the stretch and at the important time of the year. That’s all you can hope for.”
“I don’t think anybody’s going to feel sorry for the Vegas Golden Knights in this league,” added forward Mark Stone, who recently returned from a right knee injury that sidelined him 12 games. “The success we’ve had in four years, nobody’s feeling sorry for us, so we’ve got to find ways to generate points, generate wins.”
NHL.com’s Danny Webster reported the following yesterday…
Golden Knights will not have morning skate or availability tomorrow, but right now the game against the Red Wings is still set to go as planned.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) November 18, 2021
Golden Knights have placed Alec Martinez on IR, per the NHL's Media site.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) November 18, 2021
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s David Schoen asked NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly about the Golden Knights’ COVID issues as well:
Michael Amadio was unavailable Wednesday for the team’s optional practice at City National Arena because of the league protocol, the team said. Amadio joins William Carrier and Jonathan Marchessault in the COVID protocol, each of whom entered this week. Forward Adam Brooks was claimed off waivers before Thursday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings at T-Mobile Arena.
The Knights close out their homestand Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“Any positive test result gives cause for concern, but at this point in time, I wouldn’t characterize it as a significant concern,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote in an email to the Review-Journal. “And, there is no thought being given currently to disrupting the Vegas schedule going forward.”
The Knights had their activities paused in January when three members of the coaching staff and two players were placed in protocol. Forward Mattias Janmark tested positive the day before the start of this season.
But the latest round of COVID-related absences are more concerning if it indicates the Knights are trying to contain an outbreak in the locker room.
“Our problems are small when you look at it,” coach Pete DeBoer said after Tuesday’s morning skate. “There’s bigger problems out there than what we’re dealing with. We’ll deal with them and try to keep moving forward.”
