Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden was stretchered off the ice on Thursday night. Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Golden Knights' Brett Howden not seriously injured, but out indefinitely

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 3/25/22

Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden was stretchered off the ice during the first period of what became a 6-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night after he hit the boards headfirst following a battle over the puck with Nashville's Filip Forsberg:

Stretcher out for Brett Howden after scary collision into the boards after a hit by Filip Forsberg. Hope he’ll be okay. #VegasBorn #Preds pic.twitter.com/7OxJxLMDJN
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 25, 2022

According to the NHL's website, Vegas coach Peter DeBoer told reporters Friday that Howden is out indefinitely but, fortunately, avoided a serious setback.

"Sore, nothing broken but probably out for a little while," DeBoer said of Howden. "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."

As noted by ESPN and The Associated Press, Howden was in stable condition at a Las Vegas hospital late Thursday night, but the league's update said the 23-year-old was back at the team's practice facility Friday.

Thus far this season, Howden has tallied nine goals and 11 assists across 47 games.

Heading into Friday's NHL action, Vegas was fourth in the Pacific Division standings with 74 points, three points back of the third-place Edmonton Oilers but only one point back of the Dallas Stars in the race for the conference's second wild-card spot.

The Golden Knights next host the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday.

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