The forward hit the boards headfirst after a collision with Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg in the first period of a 6-1 win at T-Mobile Arena. The game was delayed nine minutes while Howden was taken from the ice.
"Sore, nothing broken but probably out for a little while," Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said Friday. "Scary situation and thankfully about as good a result as you can ask for out of something like that. He's pretty banged up today."
The play occurred with about 3:30 left in the first period. Howden appeared to be falling before he was hit. Forsberg was not penalized for the play.
The 23-year-old was taken to the hospital after the game but was at the Golden Knights practice facility Friday.
"He was in a vulnerable position and I thought he got driven into the boards from behind in a dangerous spot," DeBoer said after the game. "My initial concern was obviously about our player. It was a really dangerous hit, and anytime you see someone get stretchered off, your concern is there."
Howden scored 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 47 games in his first season with the Golden Knights.
"You never want to see anybody get stretchered off," Golden Knights forward Chandler Stephenson said. "... Everything was cleared that was career-ending (injury) related so that's obviously a huge plus. He was at the rink today, was feeling good. Obviously, he feels like he was in a car accident but at the same time, his spine's all good so everything is good from that standpoint. ... He's going to be okay, he's going to play again, which is awesome. Just makes you sick; you never want to see anything like that for anybody."
DeBoer also said forward Max Pacioretty had a setback to an undisclosed injury.
"Getting some testing today, so not available here in the near future," Deboer said.
Pacioretty, who has not played since March 11, was said to be a game-time decision Thursday.
Alec Martinez was removed from injured reserve and returned to the Golden Knights lineup when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime Saturday. The defenseman had not played since Nov. 11, when he sustained a facial injury against the Minnesota Wild.
The Golden Knights (35-28-4) hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, one point ahead of the Dallas Stars.
