The Vegas Golden Knights lost their captain, Mark Stone, to an injury on Sunday. Now, fans are all saying the same thing about the team.
Despite sitting at the top of the Pacific Division, the Golden Knights suffered their second straight defeat on Sunday, falling 5–0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Mark Stone injury update
Late in the first period, Mark Stone left the game after taking a cross-check to his upper arm or shoulder from Kris Letang. The play did not appear particularly severe, and the team did not provide an immediate update after the game.
“He was getting looked at. I assume he’ll be on the plane with us to Buffalo, and then probably have a better update tomorrow. Upper body is all I was told. See where it lands,” head coach Bruce Cassidy told NHL.com after the game.
Fans, however, had plenty to say.
Fans are mocking the Golden Knights
In previous seasons, the Golden Knights have been criticized for using long-term injured reserve to free up salary-cap space by placing high-salary stars on LTIR before the playoffs.
With the league adjusting the rules, many fans mocked the Golden Knights after Mark Stone’s exit, joking that the team is still trying to operate under the old system.
“‘Listen, Mark, they changed the way LTIR works. We’ve talked about this. You don’t have to do this anymore.’
— Golden Knights athletic trainer,” one fan joked on X.
“He’ll be OK once he remembers they changed the rules around the cap for playoffs,” another wrote.
“It’s like both he and management have forgotten that the LTIR loophole is gone,” a third fan added.
Next, the Golden Knights will face the Buffalo Sabres.
You can watch the cross-check below.
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