Vegas scratches Pacioretty just minutes before puck drop in Game 2

Vegas is forced to soldier on without their leading scorer.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Vegas scratches Pacioretty just minutes before puck drop in Game 2
Zuma Press

This just in, the Vegas Golden Knights have declared forward Max Pacioretty unfit to play for today's pivotal Game 2 of the team's opening round Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Check it out:


No word yet on why Pacioretty is out or what ails him, but it's worth noting that he took a puck to the face in Tuesday's Game 1 victory. Suffice it to say though that this is a HUGE blow for the Golden Knights. The 30 year old Pacioretty was the Golden Knights' leading goal scorer and point producer this season with 32 goals and 66 points in 71 games. He had four shots on goal and 18:08 of ice time in the series opener on Tuesday night. He's considered day-to-day for now.

There was some concern that Pacioretty may not have been healthy enough to suit up for Game 1, but he was deemed good to go after taking practice with the team on Monday. "We’re pleased to enter the playoffs in full health," Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said on Monday. "Max Pacioretty came to Edmonton a week ago, spent time quarantining, and we expect him to be back in our lineup for Game 1."

 Indeed Pacioretty was in the lineup, but that might be the last that Golden Knights fans see of him for awhile. With him out of the lineup, look for forward Chandler Stephenson to move up to the top line alongside William Karlsson and Mark Stone. Additionally look for Vegas head coach Pete DeBoer to rely heavily on his second unit of Paul Stastny, Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith.