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Vegas Golden Knights: Karlsson’s impressive return, other takeaways

By Andrew Steele-Davis

SAINT PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 11: Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights defends Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on February 11, 2019 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAINT PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 11: Paul Stastny #26 of the Vegas Golden Knights defends Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on February 11, 2019 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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SAINT PAUL, MN – FEBRUARY 11: Alex Stalock #32 makes a save while his Minnesota Wild teammate Matt Dumba #24 defends William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on February 11, 2019 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAINT PAUL, MN – FEBRUARY 11: Alex Stalock #32 makes a save while his Minnesota Wild teammate Matt Dumba #24 defends William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on February 11, 2019 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

1. No rust, no problem

Missing eight games with a broken finger, William Karlsson hadn’t laced up his skates for competitive action since Jan. 14.

However, you wouldn’t have thought it on Tuesday.

Because, and despite being mired on the third-line between Cody Eakin and Alex Tuch, Karlsson was by far the Knights’ best player on the ice.

He displayed no signs of rust and he was at the heart of everything good Vegas did in the offensive zone.

Karlsson made two plays in particular that really stood out, a sublime one-handed pass to Max Pacioretty and a superb dish from behind the net to Mark Stone.

Neither player could take advantage of the gift they had received, but it was a welcome reminder of what Karlsson can do with the puck on his stick.

The center finished with 16:15 minutes of total ice time and there is no doubt that Karlsson should be back on the top line against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.

But, whether he is or isn’t, it is just crucially important that William Karlsson is back out on the ice for the Vegas Golden Knights.

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