Vegas Golden Knights’ Logan Thompson injured in win over Flames; out Saturday
Just as quickly as the Vegas Golden Knights got clarity in their crease, their goaltending situation is clouded again. Rookie goaltender Logan Thompson returned from a six-week absence to start Thursday night’s game against the Calgary Flames – but didn’t last the night.
Thompson, 26, was starting his first game since Feb. 9, when he went down with a lower-body injury. For 53:53 of Vegas’ 3-2 win over Calgary, he was sensational, turning away 37 of 39 shots. Then, with 6:07 remaining in the third period, he appeared to tweak something on a save. He headed down the tunnel to Vegas’ dressing room and was replaced by Jonathan Quick.
After the game, Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy indicated he doesn’t expect Thompson to be available for Saturday night’s crucial divisional game against the Edmonton Oilers. He also doesn’t expect Vegas to have right winger Reilly Smith, who was also injured in Thursday’s game. Cassidy said he “didn’t know what happened” to Thompson.
Bruce Cassidy says he doesn’t think neither Reilly Smith or Logan Thompson will be available for Saturday in Edmonton.
“We’ll reconvene tomorrow.”
Said more immediate concern goes to Thompson after missing a month and a half.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) March 24, 2023
Thompson took over as Vegas’ de facto starter this season with Robin Lehner lost for the year due to hip surgery, and Thompson has been one of the best rookies in the NHL. Across 37 appearances and 36 starts, he has a 21-13-3 record with a 2.65 goals-against average, .915 save percentage and two shutouts. He leads all rookie netminders in GAA, SV% and shutouts and, if his sample size is large enough by season’s end, figures to appear on plenty of Calder Trophy ballots.
With goaltenders Adin Hill and Laurent Brossoit still out, Thompson’s injury is a deflating blow to a Vegas team that hasn’t been able to ice a healthy goaltending battery pretty much all season. That’s what the Quick trade deadline acquisition was for, however. The 37-year-old has been a godsend, compiling a 5-1-0 record with a .908 save percentage. The latter stat is deceiving, too. Aside from a six-goal shelling in his one loss, he has a .928 SV% as a Golden Knight.