‘I don’t like watching, ever’: Golden Knights’ Mark Stone on missing so many playoff games
Over the past few years, the narrative around Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone is how he has become injury-prone, though it isn’t by choice, according to him.
When speaking to the media after the team’s big 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final, Stone, who returned to the lineup for the first time in five games, admitted that he wasn’t a fan of sitting up in the press box, especially at this part of the season.
“I mean, I don’t like watching ever,” Stone said. “I want to play every game. It’s been an unfortunate part of my career, is sitting out. But this time of year, um, it definitely is harder, but when the guys are playing the way they’re playing, it makes it a little bit easier. So, coming to the rink with this smile on my face every day. Helps when you’re winning. It’s great to be around the guys, and it was great to be back on the bench.”
Stone returned to the lineup on Sunday night after missing the Golden Knights’ past five games. He suffered an apparent lower-body injury in Game 3 of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks. It left him out of action for the remainder of the Pacific Division Final and the first two games of the series against the Avalanche. During that time, Vegas eliminated the upstart Ducks in six games before jumping out to a 2-0 lead against the Presidents’ Trophy winners.
The 34-year-old noted how much work he has put in over the past couple of weeks to get game-ready, and that he was going to do whatever it took to get back in the lineup.
“Just rehabbing the last, God, I don’t even know how long it’s been…last couple of weeks just rehabbing. Trying to push back. Makes it a lot easier when the team’s playing the way they’re playing. I was inching closer…tried to buy a little bit more time, and felt like yesterday there was no reason to not jump back in there. So, tonight it felt great.”
Stone made an immediate impact in his return. After the Avs took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission, Stone tapped home his fourth goal of the playoffs, kickstarting a valiant comeback that saw the Pacific Division champs score five unanswered goals, pushing Colorado to the brink of elimination. Stone, along with Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson, posted two points in the victory.
In 10 games so far this postseason, Stone has scored nine points, sitting seventh on the team in scoring.
Game 4 is set for Tuesday night in Sin City, with puck drop scheduled for a little after 9 p.m. ET.