The Vegas Golden Knights are in the nations capital to take on the Washington Capitals tonight. Prior to the game, they received news that Reilly Smith would be Joining their extensive COVID-19 List.
The Vegas Golden Knights have been through so many different obstacles this year and very few have been able to remain healthy. Rather it’s injury, illness, or COVID related, it has left the Knights depleted for most of the season.
Ahead of Tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals, it was reported that winger, Reilly Smith, has been placed in COVID protocol. Of course, given the fact that he has tested positive for COVID, it makes him in-eligible for at least five days. So, how many games could he miss?
Given the upcoming schedule for the Knights, it’s actually a terrible time to lose him. Especially with Max Pacioretty, Mark Stone, Alec Martinez, and Jack Eichel still out. The depth will once again have to step up in the upcoming week in order to hold their own in these games.
I’m sure you’re probably curious as to how many games he could miss best case scenario? Well, Including tonight’s game against the Capitals, the Knights have four games in those five days. Furthermore, it’s against some great teams.
After tonight’s game against the Washington Capitals the Vegas Golden Knights head down to the coast to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. The Carolina Hurricanes have been red hot but not as hot as the Knights following matchup- the Florida Panthers.
The Florida Panthers have been one of the most dominant teams in not just the Atlantic, not just the Eastern conference- no, no, the entire NHL. Leading the entire NHL in points with 61, the Panthers have found a way to win 28 of their first 42 games this season.
However, looking ahead to their final game in that five day period, they will stay in Florida and take on the reigning Stanley cup champions- the Tampa Bay Lightning.
You remember right above this paragraph where I stated that the Panthers were leading the league in points? Yeah, well I lied. They are actually tied with one other team. Can you guess who it is? Yeah, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It’ll be a challenge for sure in order to hang with these teams but it’s nothing they haven’t done before. They’ve gone months without these players and have showed their resilience in the form of wins. I don’t expect this loss to be any different.