Golden Knights’ Stastny returns to lineup; Pacioretty has minor injury

Paul Stastny Is headed back to join the Winnipeg Jets. (John Locher/AP)

The Vegas Golden Knights have confirmed centre Paul Stastny will return to the lineup Friday against the New Jersey Devils, and that Max Pacioretty has sustained a minor injury.

Stastny played in three games for the Golden Knights earlier this season, going scoreless with 10 shots before a lower-body injury sidelined him in early October. The 32-year-old signed a three-year, $19.5-million contract as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Stastny will slot into the lineup between Alex Tuch and Oscar Lindberg.

With Stastny’s return, Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant alluded to the possibility Pacioretty would be a potential healthy scratch after the winger skated on the team’s fourth line at morning skate, even telling reporters there was nothing wrong Pacioretty.

However, the team has since tweeted that Pacioretty has “a minor injury.”

Pacioretty has played well of late after getting off to a slow start with his new team. In 28 games this season, the winger has scored 18 points (10 goals, eight assists), including 16 in his last 14 games.

The former Montreal Canadiens captain was acquired by Vegas in a deal this off-season and signed to a four-year, $28-million contract extension by the club that will kick in next year.

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