Stone Leaves Golden Knights Practice, McNabb Returns

The Vegas Golden Knights may have gotten a little scare at the end of practice Tuesday at City National Arena. While the team was gathering for the final drills and talk with coach Bruce Cassidy, winger Mark Stone left practice with a trainer. 

There was no apparent cause of injury during the fast-paced practice. 

Coach Bruce Cassidy downplayed the injury, though he didn't yet have specifics. 

"Yeah, he left a few minutes early, so I assume everything is good," said Cassidy. "I haven't heard any differently."

Stone was not in the locker room when the assembled media entered. His equipment had already been hung in his locker stall, and the player was gone. Stone missed the season's final three months and played just 43 games this season due to a back injury. 

Stone returned for Round One of the Stanley Cup playoffs and immediately sparked the Golden Knights. He scored eight points (3-5-8) in the first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets. 

Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers is Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena. 

Brayden McNabb

As Cassidy said Monday, McNabb indeed returned to practice Tuesday. The top-four defenseman will be important in slowing down the vaunted Edmonton Oilers' offensive attack. 

"I feel good. I'm excited. Today felt like a game day, to be honest," McNabb said after practice. "It will be fun to get back out there."

He was back in his customary spot with Shea Theodore on the second pairing. 

McNabb will be an integral part of the Golden Knights' PK unit, which was not great against Winnipeg in Round One, and will get a historic challenge in Round 2 against the Oilers' PP that clicked at 32.4% in the regular season. 

"There are things we'll try to drill down on those (things), try to make them take the shot we want as opposed to the shot they want," Cassidy said. "But every team tries that with them. They've got elite players on that unit."

The Golden Knights were one of the least penalized teams in the NHL. Given Edmonton's prolific power play, they would do well to remain out of the penalty box. Stout defenders help on both fronts. 

"Big time (threat). That's a threat for them. They're operating at over 50% in the playoffs, which is impressive," McNabb said. "So, we're going to have to be sharp. Have a plan. And we will."

Golden Knights Lines:

Barbashev-Eichel-Marchessault

Smith-Karlsson-Amadio

Howden-Stephenson-Stone

Carrier-Roy-Colesar

Defense:

Martinez-Pietrangelo

McNabb-Theodore

Hague-Whitecloud

Goalies: 

Laurent Brossoit

Adin Hill

Quotables:

The drinking game for the next series will be that Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid were taken 1-2 in the 2015 NHL Draft. Perhaps you've heard that ad nauseam over the past week? 

Eichel was asked about that again today. 

"I think we're all past the 2015 draft. It's been a couple of years, right," said Eichel. "He's gone on to do some incredible things … Yeah, it's two teams going at it in this playoff series. That's the way I'm going to view it, and I'm sure that's the way everyone will."

If you watch the video, you can hear a little cackle off-camera. That was ESPN's Linda Cohn, who is as good as they get. She asked the question and accepted the comeback in good humor. You can even see Eichel crack a smile, too.