Tanner Pearson has been put on injured reserve

It looks like William Karlsson isn't the only Vegas Golden Knights star to hit injured reserve.

Tanner Pearson will join Karlsson on the injured reserve list, where he'll miss the last two games before the break. Pearson has nine goals and 10 assists this season, providing a lower-line spark for Vegas. He joins a growing list of players sidelined by injuries in the past month, with Cole Schwindt (lower-body) also on injured reserve.

If you don't know Pearson's backstory, it's intriguing. The forward got a professional tryout with the Golden Knights during the summer, hoping to get more playing time in the NHL. Before joining Vegas, the native of Kitchener, Ontario, had 135 goals and 147 assists. But Pearson had such an impressive preseason that Kelly McCrimmon couldn't pass him up. That's when he got a one-year deal with the team.

But now he's missing two tough games against the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. The former Stanley Cup champion will leave a void on the lower lines, where the Golden Knights will pick up players from... Henderson.

Considering how big of a tire fire the AHL team has been, fans aren't looking forward to seeing where this team goes with its best players injured. Join the club, mate.

What's the good news for the Vegas Golden Knights?

The good news is the break will provide ample time for the Golden Knights to rest up for the home stretch. They can heal up and prepare for March, where they have an all-time record of 59-32-6. Plus, Vegas can get its younger players more experience, preparing them for future games.

The bad news? The Edmonton Oilers (72 points) are starting to pull away in the Pacific Division, standing four points ahead of the Golden Knights in the standings. The team's trying to win now, which complicates matters if you don't have your best men on the ice (excuse the Booger McFarland reference). Considering that Connor McSilentbutdeadly and company are ramping up their play, it helps to have all reinforcements on the ice.

Here's the thing: The Golden Knights don't have any cakewalk games in the upcoming months, either. Games against teams like the Devils (twice), Bruins (twice), and Maple Leafs will give the team a run for its money. That's not even considering playing against surging teams like the Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Detroit Red Wings. Without a healthy team, how can the Golden Knights compete?

Still, there isn't anything to panic about... for now

But that goes back to the good news part. The Vegas Golden Knights have ramped up their play when it matters most, getting them much-needed points to get a boost. They also have a solid veteran on board in Brandon Saad. Don't forget Kelly McCrimmon can make another move for Vegas. Therefore, it's not time for the team (and its fans) to hit the panic button... yet.

The thing with Pearson is he's a valuable piece to the puzzle. He has excellent hockey sense and can force turnovers to get the team going in transition. Sure, he's not the same productive player he was when he was with the Los Angeles Kings. The former first-round pick struggles with consistency, especially since he's scored one goal since January 4.

However, the team needs as many hands on deck as possible. Not having Pearson or William Karlsson hurts the team depth-wise, where they must rely on Henderson Silver Knights players to do the job. The Golden Knights are losing hope of winning the Pacific Division (and home-ice advantage until the Western Conference Final). They can't afford to lose any more bodies in their current slump. Here's hoping that Pearson--like the rest of the team--can heal up and prepare for the stretch run toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.