The Golden Knights be without star center Jack Eichel and defenseman Shea Theodore in Wednesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, per coach Bruce Cassidy.
Eichel is out with an illness that forced him out of the second half of Tuesday’s practice. Theodore. who missed the entire practice, is nursing an upper-body injury.
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Cassidy wouldn’t speculate if either injury is short- or long-term, only that both are considered day to day.
The Knights are back for just one game after a successful five-game trip that saw them earn a point in each game. They’ll depart after Wednesday’s game to play a back-to-back set over the weekend against the Calgary Flames on Saturday and Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.
Cassidy will throw his lines in the proverbial hockey blender, as Ivan Barbashev will skate with Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev, while Braeden Bowman will skate with Brandon Saad and Reilly Smith.
Smith will shift to center, as Saad will returns to the lineup after being healthy scratched in Columbus on Saturday.
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It marks the first time Eichel will miss a game this season. The first-line center leads the Knights with 41 points in 31 games.
Theodore, who will also miss his first game this season, leads Vegas’ defensemen with 20 points.
PHOTO CAPTION: Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Yegor Chinakhov (59) skates for the puck against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) in the third period at Nationwide Arena.
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