Mark Stone to return to Golden Knights lineup for Game 1

The Vegas Golden Knights are getting one of their top players back for the playoffs.

The team has confirmed that Mark Stone will be back in Vegas’ lineup for Game 1 against Winnipeg on Tuesday after being out since January due to back surgery.

Stone suffered the injury on Jan. 12 in a 4-2 win against the Florida Panthers. Stone missed over 40 games in 2021-22 due to a different back injury that required surgery in May. Stone had 17 goals and 38 points in 43 games while averaging 19:45 in ice time on Vegas’ top line.

During his five seasons with the Golden Knights, Stone has accumulated 73 goals and 203 points in 217 games. In March of 2019, Stone signed a monstrous eight-year deal with an average annual value (AAV) of $9,500,000. 

The injury left the Golden Knights with a big hole up front, but the club still managed to finish second in the Pacific Division. The team has also been without Jack Eichel, Shea Theodore and Zach Whitecloud in recent weeks, with Eichel and Theodore recently returning. Stone skated on Chandler Stephenson and Mike Amadio on the team’s third line during practice with the club on Monday.

Drafted in the sixth round by Ottawa in 2010, Stone has 50 points in 73 career playoff games. He has had eight points during the 2021 postseason and had a career-high 17 in 2019-20 as the Golden Knights came up short of making the Stanley Cup final.

The Golden Knights will open the series at home on Tuesday, with Game 2 happening Thursday evening. The series will shift to Winnipeg for Saturday and Monday, with Vegas hosting on Thursday for Game 5 if needed.