Golden Knights’ William Karlsson to miss Game 6 with injury
The Vegas Golden Knights will have their backs against the wall on Sunday night when they take the ice for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes while facing a 3-2 deficit.
A 4-2 loss in Raleigh in Game 5 on Thursday was costly for that reason, but it also left them without key center William Karlsson, who exited the game with what appeared to be a hand or wrist injury and did not return.
Karlsson, who missed extensive time in the regular season and at the beginning of the Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup Playoff run, was ruled out for Game 6 by head coach John Tortorella, who spoke with reporters on Saturday.
John Tortorella on Carter Hart: he’s ready to go William Karlsson won’t play tomorrow
Karlsson appeared in 14 regular season games this year in which he put up four goals and three assists for seven points. He’s been a major boost for Vegas since returning in the postseason, as the veteran Swede has provided excellent defense while producing 9 points in 15 games.
Notably, Karlsson found the back of the net in Game 4 as the Knights erased a two-goal Carolina lead in the second period before ultimately losing the third period and the game.
Tortorella did not officially rule Karlsson out for a possible Game 7 in Carolina that would occur with a Vegas win on Sunday, but given his initial comments after Game 5, it seems like a return to the ice this season would be something of a long shot.
The Stanley Cup-winning head coach also confirmed that Carter Hart will get the start in net for Game 6, which seemed like a given, but Hart did not skate with the team during its practice on Saturday.
Tortorella was vehement in his defense of Hart following Game 5, though the Vegas goalkeeper is the first in NHL history to allow four goals in five consecutive games to start a Stanley Cup Final.
If the Golden Knights are able to pull off a win over Carolina with Karlsson out, they would force a Game 7 back in Raleigh, which would be set for 8:00 PM Eastern.