It’s one thing for a team to battle an illness throughout a season. It just so happens the Golden Knights are battling it with the playoffs on the horizon.
Some players pushed through it during the three-game road trip. Others have had to miss time. One player even took warmups and was expected to play Thursday, only to be a late scratch.
But if the Knights are going to pick a time to show they can overcome adversity, it might be with key players out of the lineup. It was all hands on deck to earn a 2-1 slugfest win over the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Arena.
This illness going around the Knights’ locker room has seemingly picked players one by one.
Center William Karlsson battled through it on the road trip.
Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo missed his second straight game because of it, as did blue line partner Nic Hague despite taking part in warmups. Left wing Victor Olofsson was also held out.
Add in center Jack Eichel missing his second straight game because of an upper-body injury, and the Knights’ depth was tested against a Seattle team that had nothing to play for.
“You don’t want this to go through your team now,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You want to sort of get healthier.”
The trade-off is some players who haven’t gotten much playing time are getting quality reps late in the season.
Ben Hutton was the last-second replacement for Hague in just his eighth game of the season. Alexander Holtz was recalled from AHL Henderson as a precaution for Olofsson, who was a game-time decision.
“Other guys do get to go in,” Cassidy said. “If everyone was healthy, maybe a guy like Hutty, Holtz or (center Cole Schwindt) wouldn’t get some reps. If we have an extended (playoff) run, you’re going to need your depth typically.”
What the Knights hope is that long playoff run is close to involving a potential two rounds of home-ice advantage at T-Mobile Arena.
The Knights are two points from clinching their fourth Pacific Division title in eight seasons. They had a chance to clinch Thursday, but the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-1.
Instead, the attention turns to Saturday. The Knights can clinch with a regulation win over former Original Misfit Jonathan Marchessault and the Nashville Predators in their home finale at 7 p.m..
The Knights could clinch before they even play if the Kings lose in regulation to the Colorado Avalanche. That game starts at 1 p.m.
Karlsson and left wing Ivan Barbashev scored, and goaltender Adin Hill made 24 saves for the Knights (48-22-9) in their ninth win in 12 games (9-1-2).
Seattle (34-40-6) came in winner of three of its past four and is in the playing-for-pride phase of the season after missing the playoffs for the third time in four years.
The Kraken dominated early by hemming in the Knights in the defensive zone. Hill and his teammates were pressured from the get-go and didn’t have much room to operate.
“Sometimes, it’s pretty hard to play a team that’s out of the playoffs and all they try to do is probably have fun out there,” Barbashev said.
Hockey, however, remains a sport in which one bounce can change a game. In this instance, a turnover by Seattle led to a transition chance for the Knights’ top line. The loose puck kicked to Barbashev near the top of the left circle, and he snapped it past Seattle goalie Joey Daccord for a 1-0 lead at 6:58.
Karlsson added to the lead at 7:56 of the second off another Seattle turnover. The Knights got a three-on-two after a neutral-zone turnover, and left wing Reilly Smith found a trailing Karlsson for the 2-0 lead.
Seattle got one back at 17:21 off a scramble in front when left wing Jared McCann tapped in the loose puck from the crease, cutting the lead to 2-1.
The Kraken were given the only two power plays of the game in the third period, but the Knights’ strong penalty kill continued its run of form with two solid kills.
There wasn’t a lot of action for a game the Knights never felt out of place in. It wasn’t the prettiest win, but any wins involving adversity of any kind might be good this time of year.
“There’s always some positives,” Cassidy said. “You just don’t want it to go through your whole group. Hopefully one or two more guys, and that’s it.”
Here are three takeaways from the win:
1. Hertl returns
Center Tomas Hertl played 16:01 with no shots on goal in his return to the lineup after missing the past eight games with a shoulder injury.
Hertl suffered the injury March 23 against the Tampa Bay Lightning when he was shoved into the end boards by defenseman Emil Lilleberg.
The 31-year-old Hertl is second on the team with 31 goals and has a franchise-record 14 power-play goals. The Knights didn’t get a chance to see the man advantage in Hertl’s return, as they did not draw a penalty.
2. Hill nears 50
The career year of the Knights’ goaltender continues with Hill picking up his 31st win in his 49th start of the season.
Both are career highs.
Hill made it a goal coming into this season to reach 50 starts. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Hill will get that opportunity Saturday in the Knights’ home finale.
Hill improved to 11-3-1 since the 4 Nations Face-Off. It’s the sixth time he’s allowed one goal or fewer.
3. Bon Jovi
Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi was in attendance and received an ovation when shown on the jumbotron during the first period.
This wouldn’t be noteworthy for any reason other than Cassidy being asked what his go-to Bon Jovi song is.
“I always liked ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ when I was younger. That’s the automatic one,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy added “I’ll Be There for You” was his slow-dance song of choice.
Contact Danny Webster at [email protected]. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
