DeBoer returns, Pietrangelo misses Golden Knights practice Friday
Coach expected back, defenseman likely out for game against Kings; facilities were closed Jan. 27 due to COVID-19
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The defenseman, DeBoer and two assistants were absent Wednesday when the Golden Knights practiced for the first time since their facilities were closed Jan. 27 under NHL COVID-19 protocol.
Assistant Ryan Craig returned Thursday but assistant Ryan McGill remained off the ice.
The Golden Knights return to play against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena on Friday (10 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, ATTSN-RM, KCOP-13, NHL.TV).
"We'll hear about Alex hopefully today at some point with regards to his return to play," Vegas assistant Steve Spott said Thursday, "Until that point, yeah, we will play obviously [Shea] Theodore and [Alec] Martinez some bigger minutes against some of the tougher line combinations that we're going to face tomorrow night. But at this point, we don't know on Alex, and hopefully he'll be back sooner than later."
Spott, goaltending coach Mike Rosati and director of hockey operations Misha Donskov have been on the ice for practice each day.
"It's great having Ryan back, obviously, just around the team," Spott said. "I know for himself, it was great getting back, and for us as a coaching staff. It's one more body available to us on the ice and in our meetings. We're waiting to hear obviously on Pete and Ryan McGill. They're still in protocol. But like Ryan Craig, hopefully we're going to see them sooner than later."
Pietrangelo has been unavailable since Jan. 28; he has scored four points (one goal, three assists) in seven games and leads the Golden Knights in time on ice per game (25:37).
The NHL is releasing the names of players unavailable under the COVID-19 protocol but is not identifying coaches.
"It's been difficult," Vegas captain Mark Stone said Wednesday. "Obviously you never want to miss a week. But we've done stuff like this in the past. We've had our bye weeks, we've had our all-star breaks and then come back and had a couple practices and had to play. So it's not completely out of the ordinary for us, so we'll be ready to go."
General manager Kelly McCrimmon coached the Golden Knights, assisted by the staff of Henderson of the American Hockey League, in a 5-4 shootout loss at home against the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 26 after the Vegas staff could not coach under the protocol. McCrimmon said after the game that a coach had tested positive.
The Vegas facilities were closed the next day. The Golden Knights were supposed to play the Blues at T-Mobile Arena again the following day, but the NHL announced the game was postponed and the facilities would remain closed after a player and another member of the staff entered the protocol. Pietrangelo then was listed as unavailable.
The NHL announced Friday that Vegas games against the San Jose Sharks scheduled for Monday and Wednesday were postponed, the facilities would remain closed, and four members of the Golden Knights, including three coaches, were being isolated.
Stone said the players stayed in touch and in shape from afar.
"We talked throughout the seven days, more just joking around with each other," the forward said. "That's what you kind of miss when you don't play, just that camaraderie of coming to the rink and being together. So we've kind of tried to do that through text.
"I think guys did a good job of finding ways to do stuff, whether that was in their garage as a gym. … Some guys have saunas. Anything you can do to try to get that edge."
Spott said the coaches remained in communication as well.
"We talk multiple times daily, so we're all on the same page," he said. "Whoever has the whistle in his mouth for that particular morning running practice can get the job done."
Spott said the Golden Knights went over the details of their 5-on-5 game and conducted drills to get back up to game speed Wednesday, focusing on spatial awareness and reintroducing physical contact.
"With that extended time off, we've got to get them back [in game shape], but at the same time, making sure we're not pushing them to the point where they could pull a muscle or hurt themselves," Spott said.
What if the Golden Knights don't have their full coaching staff against the Kings?
"I mean, we played with no coaches [against the Blues], and we played great," Stone said. "It's a resilient group. Obviously we want to get our coaches back. Not sure when that's going to happen."
Stone sounded unconcerned about playing a busy schedule the rest of the season. The postponed games have been rescheduled; the Golden Knights will play the Blues at T-Mobile Arena on March 22, and the Sharks at SAP Center on Feb. 13 and Feb. 25.
"It's challenging, but the way I look at it is, on the road, I'd rather be playing games," Stone said. "I don't really want to be sitting in my hotel room with nothing to do. So for us, I don't mind it.
"We're going to condense more road games together. We're going to play a lot of hockey, keep our mind away from a lot of things. It's going to be tougher obviously physically, but mentally, I think it's going to help us."
