Golden Knights’ Brett Howden, Noah Hanifin out vs. Bruins, day-to-day with injuries

The Vegas Golden Knights will be without two important players tonight.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media Thursday that forward Brett Howden and defenseman Noah Hanifin will miss tonight’s home game against the Boston Bruins. Both are considered day-to-day.

Goaltender Adin Hill, who left Tuesday’s game against the Calgary Flames with an apparent injury, will dress and serve as Akira Schmid’s backup.

Howden will miss his second consecutive game with a lower-body injury, meaning Cole Reinhardt will stay in the lineup on Vegas’ fourth line. Howden has a goal in three games played this season, coming off a career-best campaign in which he put up 23 goals and 17 assists for 40 points.

Meanwhile, Hanifin will miss his fourth straight game with an undisclosed injury. Last season, Hanifin played a central role for the Golden Knights, finishing third among skaters in average ice time, and tallying 10 goals and 29 assists for 39 points. In the one game the 29-year old has played so far this season, he logged 24 minutes of ice time, second to only Shea Thedore. Without Hanifin, Ben Hutton will keep his role on Vegas’ second defense pairing alongside Zach Whitecloud.

The Golden Knights, who have made the playoffs in four of their five seasons as a franchise, including winning the Stanley Cup in 2023, are looking to build off last year, in which they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup finalists Edmonton Oilers.

Vegas kicks off a three-game homestand tonight. They’ll host the Flames on Saturday, and will then welcome the Carolina Hurricanes next Monday.