Mark Stone returns from wrist injury with clutch goal in Golden Knights loss to Ottawa Senators

The roar inside T-Mobile Arena reached a crescendo when captain Mark Stone found the back of the net Wednesday night. After missing 16 games with a wrist injury, Stone’s return delivered exactly what Vegas Golden Knights fans had been waiting for: a momentum-shifting goal at a critical moment. The tying power-play tally in the third period against the Ottawa Senators seemed to be the storybook ending everyone envisioned. However, hockey rarely follows a perfect script. Despite Stone’s heroics, the Golden Knights fell 4-3 in a shootout, extending their troubling streak in extra-time situations while offering a glimpse of what a healthy lineup might accomplish.

The contrast between celebration and frustration defined the evening. Stone’s trademark leap into the boards after scoring—complete with his hand slamming against the glass—served as a physical testament to his recovery. The very wrist that had sidelined him since late October appeared no worse for wear as he celebrated his seventh point in just seven games this season. Yet the final result left the team contemplating another lost opportunity in a season filled with them.

The arduous journey back to the ice

Mark Stone’s path to Wednesday’s return began with a seemingly routine play on October 20, when a wrist injury placed him on injured reserve. What followed was nearly five weeks of rehabilitation, frustration, and careful preparation. The 33-year-old captain, no stranger to injuries after missing 142 games since 2021-22 due to two back surgeries and a lacerated spleen, approached this recovery with the grim determination of someone who has become all too familiar with the process.

“I don’t enjoy rehabbing. I’ve unfortunately gotten good at it,” Stone admitted before the game, his candor reflecting the weariness of a veteran who understands the toll of repeated injuries. “I understand the best way to go about it, but no rehab’s fun. I don’t wish it on anyone. I’m just excited to be back.”

Stone’s preparation took an unconventional turn during his recovery. While his teammates battled through a road trip in Utah and Anaheim, he laced up his skates with the Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas’s American Hockey League affiliate. Those practice sessions proved crucial in accelerating his timeline. Without that opportunity to skate at game speed, Stone acknowledged that Friday’s matchup against Montreal would have been a more realistic target for his return.

The captain’s absence left a noticeable void in the Golden Knights lineup. Before the injury, Stone had accumulated 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in just six games, showcasing the offensive catalyst he represents. His ability to control possession, create scoring chances, and provide leadership on the bench extends far beyond simple statistics. Coach Bruce Cassidy emphasized this impact before Wednesday’s contest, noting, “He’s good on the bench. He’s a leader. It’s just nice to have him back. He makes our team better.”

Stone’s immediate impact shifts momentum

Stone wasted no time reminding everyone why his presence matters so much. Playing 19:58—third-most among forwards—he led all forwards in short-handed ice time with 2:17, immediately resuming his role as Vegas’s most trusted penalty killer. Everything healed properly, and the practices he needed were complete. He was ready to go.

The line combinations revealed an interesting strategic shift. Stone centered a third line with Brett Howden and Mitch Marner, who moved to left wing for the first time this season. The trio quickly became Vegas’s most effective unit, outshooting Ottawa 10-3 when on the ice together and generating the primary assist on Howden’s first-period goal. Howden, who has skated alongside Stone during the team’s Stanley Cup run, wasn’t surprised by the seamless chemistry.

“I don’t think (Stone) has ever had an issue of getting back up to speed,” Howden said. “It’s unfortunate that he’s been out a handful of times in the years that I’ve been here, and every time he comes back, it seems like he doesn’t miss a beat.”

The new line configuration allowed Stone to do what he does best: draw defenders to him and create space for his linemates. Cassidy praised the unit’s ability to find weak-side ice for Marner while utilizing Howden’s speed through the middle. The trio’s offensive zone possession time gave the Senators fits and established the territorial dominance that would eventually lead to Stone’s dramatic third-period equalizer.

How Stone’s tying goal unfolded

The pivotal moment arrived at 6:40 of the third period with Vegas trailing 3-2. On a power-play opportunity, Stone gathered the puck along the goal line and attempted a pass to Pavel Dorofeyev in front. The first attempt missed its mark, but fortune favored the returning captain on his second effort. The puck deflected off Ottawa’s Tim Stutzle’s skate and slid past goaltender Linus Ullmark, who had been stellar all night with 32 saves.

“Got a really lucky bounce, but you take those and run,” Stone said afterward, displaying the humility typical of a player who values process over results. The goal tied the game 3-3 and completed Vegas’s comeback from an early 2-0 deficit. It also extended Stone’s remarkable production to 14 points in seven games this season, putting him on pace for one of the most productive campaigns of his career.

The celebration that followed reminded everyone why Stone’s return meant more than just one goal. His leap into the glass tested the same wrist that had kept him out for over a month, a visible display of confidence in his recovered limb. For a player who had scored just two goals before the injury, finding the back of the net in his return game provided vindication for the frustrating weeks spent in rehabilitation.

The frustrating pattern continues

Despite Stone’s heroics and a dominant third period where Vegas controlled play, the night ended with familiar disappointment. The Golden Knights dropped their third straight game (0-1-2) and extended their overtime struggles to alarming proportions. The team fell to 1-8 in games decided past regulation, including seven consecutive extra-time losses.

“We totally controlled the second and third period,” Stone said. “I’m not sure they had as much as a scoring chance, especially in the third. We have every opportunity to end the game. We had the puck on our stick and just couldn’t capitalize. It’s unfortunate, but I think for the last month we’ve been playing some really good hockey. Just can’t get over the hump.”

The statistics paint a stark picture. Vegas outshot Ottawa significantly in the final 40 minutes but couldn’t beat Ullmark again after Stone’s tying goal. The shootout proved particularly futile, with the Golden Knights going 0-for-3 against the Swedish goaltender. This pattern has become a concerning theme, turning potential regulation wins into single points and transforming what should be a comfortable division lead into a precarious position.

Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson, who scored a goal and added two assists, acknowledged his team’s good fortune. “It wasn’t pretty, but two points is two points,” he said after the win. The Senators improved to 3-1-0 on their current seven-game road trip, capitalizing on Vegas’s inability to finish games.

What this means for the Golden Knights’ season

Paradoxically, despite their overtime woes, the Golden Knights remain just one point behind the Anaheim Ducks for first place in the Pacific Division. Their ability to consistently earn points—even in losing efforts—has kept them in contention during a challenging stretch. Stone’s return provides exactly the boost they need as they enter a brutal December schedule featuring 13 games.

The captain’s presence addresses multiple team needs simultaneously:

• Offensive production: 14 points in 7 games demonstrates elite-level scoring
• Leadership: Vocal presence on the bench and in the locker room
• Defensive responsibility: Leading forwards in short-handed ice time
• Line flexibility: Allows coaches to optimize matchups and create scoring depth

Brett Howden’s development alongside Stone represents another positive development. The speedy center’s goal showcased his ability to utilize space created by Stone’s gravitational pull on defenders. With Mitch Marner adapting to a new position, this line could become a consistent secondary scoring threat behind the top unit of Jack Eichel, Ivan Barbashev, and rookie sensation Braeden Bowman.

Looking ahead: can Stone stay healthy?

The elephant in the room remains Stone’s injury history. Since 2021-22, he has missed significant time due to two back surgeries, a lacerated spleen, a pulled muscle last season, and now this wrist injury. The pattern has tested both the player and the organization, forcing Vegas to develop depth but also raising questions about long-term durability.

“Every injury is frustrating,” Stone reiterated. “Coming to the rink, it sucks rehabbing. I’m just excited to get back and hopefully stay healthy, knock on wood for the 15th time.”

His self-awareness about the rehabilitation process—“I’ve unfortunately gotten good at it”—reveals a veteran who understands his body but also recognizes the mental toll. The Golden Knights’ medical staff will need to carefully manage his workload through the congested December schedule while maximizing his on-ice impact.

The immediate schedule presents challenges: three games in four days, including Friday’s matchup against Montreal, before the calendar flips to a grueling December. Stone’s ability to navigate this stretch without setback could determine whether Vegas emerges as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender or continues to battle inconsistency.

Stone’s return energizes Vegas locker room

Beyond the statistics and strategic implications, Stone’s comeback provides an intangible lift that statistics cannot capture. His energy on the bench, his communication with teammates, and his willingness to play through discomfort set a tone for the entire organization. Young players like Bowman, who has points in five straight games, benefit from having a battle-tested captain demonstrating daily what professional commitment looks like.

The timing of his return also carries symbolic weight. Facing his former team in the Ottawa Senators, where he spent the first six seasons of his career before being traded to Vegas, added emotional resonance to an already significant night. While the shootout loss stung, Stone’s ability to contribute meaningfully against his old franchise validated his recovery timeline.

Coach Cassidy faces difficult decisions moving forward. William Karlsson, Adin Hill, and Jeremy Lauzon remain sidelined with various injuries, testing Vegas’s organizational depth. Stone’s return eases some pressure, but the team’s recent pattern of slow starts and late-game dramatics requires adjustment. The Golden Knights have controlled play for extended stretches but consistently stumble at finish lines.

For Stone personally, the goal represents more than just another statistic. It validates the frustrating weeks spent skating in Henderson while his teammates battled without him. It demonstrates that his wrist can withstand the rigors of an NHL slap shot and the celebration that follows. Most importantly, it provides hope that this return might be the one that sticks, that the injury bug that has plagued him for four seasons might finally be exorcised.

As Vegas prepares for Montreal and the daunting December calendar, they do so with their captain back in the fold and seemingly at full strength. The points keep coming, even when wins don’t. With Mark Stone healthy and producing, the Golden Knights have every reason to believe their best hockey lies ahead, provided they can figure out how to win the close ones that have consistently slipped away.

The journey back from injury rarely follows a straight line, but Stone’s return reminds everyone why he’s worth waiting for. His clutch goal against Ottawa won’t appear among the season’s most beautiful highlights, but its significance to a team desperately needing its leader back cannot be overstated. Vegas now moves forward with its heart and soul restored, hoping the worst of its injury troubles and overtime demons remain in the past.