LAS VEGAS — The Golden Knights lost red-hot Tomas Hertl to an upper-body injury during Sunday's 4-2 win over the Lightning, and while coach Bruce Cassidy said he was hoping for good news Monday morning, one early report said otherwise.
"It's the shoulder … I didn't like what I was hearing on Sunday night, but I am hoping that is wrong," Elliotte Friedman said during the 32 Thoughts podcast. "Initially, the word wasn't great. I'm just hoping that's wrong.
"I don't know what to say here except that I heard they were a little bit concerned about it."
Understandably, too, considering Hertl has been on a heater of late.
While center Jack Eichel may have been named the NHL's second star this week, there's no doubt who's been the hottest Golden Knight the past few weeks.
Hertl suffered the injury when he was pushed from behind by Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg after a breakaway opportunity was stopped by Tampa Bay goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Hertl went to gather the rebound when Lilleberg grabbed Hertl's hips and shoved him.
Hertl slammed into the end boards shoulder first and did not return. Originally a five-minute major, the call was reduced to a two-minute boarding penalty.
"That is a dirty hit in that area when a player is in that position," Golden Knights broadcaster Shane Hnidy said during the broadcast. "That's gotta be a five-minute major). I'm all for physical play but there's gotta be awareness."
The Knights left for a three-game road trip on Monday, starting in Minnesota, so no update was provided. Vegas' trip begins Tuesday against the Wild, whom the Knights would face if the playoffs began now.
A message for Hertl's agent, Craig Oster, went unreturned.
A long-term loss could prove devastating for a Golden Knights offense that has come alive, ranking second with 3.92 goals-for per game during an 8-2-2 run since Feb. 27.
Hertl has been a big part of that, as he followed up Saturday's hat trick against the Red Wings with a goal against Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Hertl, whose 14 power-play goals are a franchise record, now has two hat tricks in his last eight games and leads the league with 19 goals since Jan. 17. His 28 points in the same span are tied with three others for 15th in the league.
"He’s playing some of his best hockey he’s probably played in his career, never mind with us," Cassidy said Sunday night.
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