Mark Stone made a triumphant return to the lineup for the Golden Knights on December 1, 2023, although his efforts were not enough to secure a victory. The team faced the Ottawa Senators at T-Mobile Arena, ultimately suffering a 4-3 loss in a shootout after a fierce battle that saw the Knights rally from a two-goal deficit.
Stone, who had missed 16 games due to a wrist injury, scored a power-play goal during the match. The goal came after a series of fortunate events as he gathered the puck at the goal line, initially fumbling a pass before it deflected off Senators center Tim Stutzle and into the net. “You take it and run,” Stone remarked after the game, celebrating with his signature leap into the boards, testing the wrist that had kept him sidelined for weeks.
Impactful Return to Play
In his first game back, Stone logged a significant 19:58 on ice, ranking third among forwards, and led all forwards with 2:17 of short-handed ice time. His return was unexpected, as he had been practicing with the Silver Knights in Henderson while his teammates played in Utah and Anaheim over the weekend. “Everything’s healed, I got the practices I needed, and I’m ready to go,” he explained.
Despite his injury history, Stone demonstrated that he had not lost his competitive edge. This season, he has accumulated 14 points in just seven games. His performance on the ice was evident, as he stated, “Overall, I felt pretty good. Legs started to go a little bit toward the end of the game.”
The past few years have been challenging for Stone in terms of injuries, having missed a total of 142 games since the 2021-22 season due to various setbacks, including two back surgeries and a lacerated spleen. “Every injury is frustrating,” he acknowledged, expressing his dislike for the rehabilitation process, although he has become accustomed to it.
New Line Chemistry and Team Struggles
In his return, Stone lined up with new teammates, center Brett Howden and Mitch Marner, marking a shift in the Knights’ strategy. This trio quickly established chemistry, outshooting the Senators 10-3 while on the ice together. Marner, playing left wing for the first time this season, contributed significantly with four shots and a primary assist on Howden’s first-period goal.
“It’s unfortunate that he’s been out a handful of times in the years that I’ve been here, and every time he comes back, it seems like he doesn’t miss a beat,” Howden observed, highlighting Stone’s ability to seamlessly reintegrate into the game.
While Stone’s power-play goal helped the Knights tie the game at 3-3 in the third period, the team ultimately fell short in the shootout, marking their seventh consecutive loss in extra time. Despite this, the Knights remain competitive, just one point behind the Anaheim Ducks for the top spot in the Pacific Division.
Coach Bruce Cassidy did not provide updates on other injured players, including center William Karlsson and goaltender Adin Hill, but the return of their captain is a promising development as the team enters a demanding stretch of three games in four days.
Stone concluded his reflections on his return with a candid acknowledgment of the challenges faced during rehabilitation. “Coming to the rink, it sucks rehabbing,” he stated. “I’m just excited to get back and hopefully stay healthy, knock on wood for the 15th time.”
The Golden Knights will face the Montreal Canadiens next, continuing their busy schedule as they strive for consistency and a return to winning form.
