Golden Knights down two forwards heading into San Jose

Tuesday was a time for celebration with the Golden Knights raising their Stanley Cup banner, but they didn't leave unscathed. They'll be down two forwards with William Carrier and Brett Howden out for Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks (Vegas 34, 7:30 p.m.).

Howden was issued a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head of Seattle Kraken forward Brandon Tanev in the third period of Vegas' 4-1 win. Howden was issued a match penalty for the hit. He had a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety today.

Carrier left the game with 12 minutes remaining in the second period due to an upper-body injury and didn't return. Coach Bruce Cassidy said Carrier is still undergoing tests to determine the severity.

That allows Pavel Dorofeyev to make his season debut. The 22-year-old winger went to the final moments of preseason competing with Paul Cotter for the open third-line left wing roster spot. Cotter won the job and skated with William Karlsson and Michael Amadio on Tuesday.

Forward Jonas Røndbjerg will be called up from AHL Henderson to replace Carrier on the fourth line.

Cotter will move up to the second line with Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone, while Dorofeyev will skate with Karlsson and Amadio.

"It's more who's the best fit in Will's spot," Cassidy said about calling up Røndbjerg. "We had good camps by a number of different wingers, and Ronnie would be the best fit if we're going that route."

The Golden Knights' depth has already been tested with defensemen Zach Whitecloud and Alec Martinez out week-to-week with upper-body injuries. Veteran defenseman Ben Hutton and Silver Knights captain Brayden Pachal are the third pairing for the foreseeable future.

Forward depth was key last season and in the playoffs. It will be a chance for the Golden Knights to see what they have with both of their young forwards at the same time.

"I think that's one big thing about our organization is the depth is pretty awesome," Cotter said Wednesday. "Pav is going to step in. He can be an everyday NHLer, and he's proven it. Guys in the AHL ... they've all played games. I think we should be fine."

Thompson returns

Logan Thompson will make his season debut Thursday in his first regular season start since March 23.

Vegas' All-Star goalie made two starts after the All-Star break and didn't finish either game due to lower-body injuries. He left Feb. 9 at Minnesota early in the third period, returned a little more than a month later in Calgary before re-aggravating the injury and being shut down the rest of the season.

Thompson made 31 saves Thursday in a 4-3 preseason win over the Colorado Avalanche in his first full game since then.

"He needs to get in there. He's worked hard in camp. I think he's looked good, he looks healthy. He's moving well," Cassidy said of Thompson.

Much like last season, Cassidy is scripting out starts month-to-month with Thompson and Adin Hill. Hill, who made 32 saves on Tuesday, will start Saturday against Anaheim.

Injuries and performance play a factor in if that changes, Cassidy said. With Hill playing well dating back to the playoffs, and Thompson returning, equal reps appear to be the call.

"That'll be an assessment of X-amount of games, not just one game," Cassidy said. "It'll be a month's worth of work split between the two of them, and we'll see how we chop up November."

 

 

 

Danny Webster can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Danny on Twitter at twitter.com/DannyWebster21.