Needing a win to stay alive in the Stanley Cup Final, the Vegas Golden Knights will be without veteran forward William Karlsson for Sunday’s must-win Game 6 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 33-year-old Karlsson suffered an apparent upper-body injury midway though the second period of Thursday’s Game 5 after taking a hit from Hurricanes defenceman Sean Walker.
Karlsson left the game and didn’t return as Vegas lost its second straight game to trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series.
Starting goalie Carter Hart was not at Vegas’ main practice on Saturday, but will be ready to play on Sunday, according to head coach John Tortorella.
Hart did not skate with the main group at practice as he skated on own at a different rink.
The 27-year-old has not been as sharp in the Stanley Cup Final after a brilliant start to his postseason in the first three rounds.
Hart has allowed four goals in each of the fives games so far in the series and now has a 2.71 goals-against average alongside a .891 save percentage over 21 playoff games.
“I haven’t been my best this series. I’ll be better next game,” Hart told reporters during a media availability.
A native of Sweden, Karlsson returned for the second round of the playoffs after being sidelined since early November with a lower-body injury.
Karlsson, who has been with the Golden Knights since they entered the NHL as an expansion team in 2017, has three goals and six assists over 15 playoff games this spring. He scored four goals and three assists over 14 regular season games.
Karlsson helped the Golden Knights win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2023 and is set to enter the final season of an eight-year, $47.2 million contract in 2026-27.
