The Vegas Golden Knights have placed captain Mark Stone on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the team announced Thursday. Stone, 33, will miss at least the next two games — home contests against the Minnesota Wild on Friday and the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday — due to the seven-day minimum IR stay.
Stone was injured Sunday in Pittsburgh after a light check from Penguins defenseman Kris Letang late in the first period. He did not return and has also missed games in Buffalo and Detroit.
This marks Stone’s second stint on IR this season. He previously missed 16 games from Oct. 18 to Nov. 26 with a broken finger. Despite the setbacks, Stone has been on pace for a career year with 60 points in 43 games, a 114-point pace over 82 games.
To fill the roster vacancy, the Knights acquired veteran center Nic Dowd from the Washington Capitals on Thursday in exchange for goaltending prospect Jesper Vikman and two draft picks. Dowd is expected to provide depth down the middle as Vegas battles for the Pacific Division lead.
The Golden Knights currently hold a one-point lead over the Anaheim Ducks with 20 games remaining.
