Losing to the Washington Capitals on a Tuesday, 4-2, wasn't a good time. The Vegas Golden Knights watched Logan Thompson stop 24 of 26 shots as the former Vegas netminder kept his new team upright. There was also a three-goal outburst in the second period that did the Golden Knights in. However, that wasn't the only bit of bad news.
Victor Olofsson left the game in the third period with a lower-body injury. He twisted his leg going for a puck with Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath. While there's no update on the winger's status yet, Bruce Cassidy did confirm that it didn't look good.
Cassidy said he did not have an update on Victor Olofsson but it didn't look good when he came off the ice.
— SinBin.vegas (@SinBinVegas) October 16, 2024
This came during the same game that Olofsson scored a power play goal. He scored late in the first period, with Tomas Hertl and Mark Stone assisting on the goal. The Swedish forward could have a prolonged absence from hockey, leaving a void on the power play unit. That's bad news for a Golden Knights team that's worked on improving the unit.
So what will Vegas do to recover from this devastating injury? Who will step up with the newest forward potentially out for weeks (maybe even months)? This could be a rocky situation for the franchise to navigate, especially if they want to see their power play improve. Let's examine who could be waiting in the wings and what Vegas can do.
What to make of Victor Olofsson's injury
The lower-body injury sustained by Victor Olofsson in Tuesday's loss appeared to be devastating. When someone twists their leg in any particular direction, it's a gruesome injury that'll need time for recovery. As Bruce Cassidy openly admitted, this is what the Swedish forward will likely face.
Who will step up in Olofsson's absence? Brendan Brisson likely gets the nod here. While he started extremely slow in the preseason, he could have a bounce-back campaign in the Swedish forward's place.
The University of Michigan alum has had some NHL experience, scoring two goals and six assists in 15 games last season. That included a game-winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 20, helping Vegas erase a 2-0 deficit. The Manhattan Beach native also scored a goal and assist on the man advantage last season.
Of course, that comes with some responsibilities. First, there must be fewer penalties on Brisson's part. That means no more tripping players like Macklin Celebrini one minute in the game. In this case, it would be either Jake Guentzel or Matthew Tkachuk. The Golden Knights are in the middle of a grueling East Coast trip, which could hurt their chances of getting crucial points.
Overall, losing Olofsson in the loss to the Washington Capitals hurts. They had a valuable pickup from free agency who started panning out for the team. Now, they must readjust their game plan and get a younger player involved. Will the Golden Knights survive? Well, they've dealt with crazier situations before.