Golden Knights could get key forward back against Coyotes

It wasn’t only team picture day at T-Mobile Arena that brought a smile to the Golden Knights’ faces Friday.

Left wing Max Pacioretty was back at practice ahead of the Knights’ final 10 games of the regular season. Pacioretty, who hasn’t played since March 11 with an undisclosed injury, wore a blue third-line jersey and is considered a game-time decision for Saturday’s matchup with the Arizona Coyotes, according to coach Pete DeBoer.

Pacioretty’s return was an encouraging sight for a team that could use a scoring boost in its Western Conference playoff chase. The Knights also need as many bodies up front as possible for the stretch run since their depth is being tested.

“He sticks pucks into the net,” DeBoer said. “This is a one-goal league. It’s particularly a one-goal league at this time of the year. By that I mean the games are 2-1, 3-2, so adding a guy that has that ability that’s one of the elite scorers in the league, both power play and five-on-five, it changes our team.”

The Knights, even with Pacioretty nearing a return, are set to add him to the lineup later than expected. He looked ready to come back March 24 against the Nashville Predators and participated in the team’s skate that morning,

Pacioretty suffered a setback, however, and didn’t warm up that night. It continued a string of poor injury luck for the 33-year-old, who also broke a bone in his foot the second game of the season and had wrist surgery in December.

Pacioretty was seen skating with captain Mark Stone off to the side Tuesday but Friday was his first time practicing with the Knights since his March comeback attempt. Stone (back) did not practice with the team Friday.

Center William Karlsson was quick to point out “we always need Max,” but getting the Knights’ fifth-leading goal scorer — Pacioretty has 15 in 29 games — would be especially timely Saturday. The team remains out of a playoff spot by points and points percentage.

“It’s going to be huge,” Karlsson said. “We all know what kind of impact he has on the team.”

Pacioretty’s play on its own is important to the Knights. They could also use the extra depth up front with Stone, right wing Reilly Smith, left wing William Carrier and centers Brett Howden and Nolan Patrick out.

The missing bodies have forced DeBoer to lean on some of his top forwards recently like left wing Jonathan Marchessault and centers Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson.

Eichel has played more than 20 minutes in five straight games after doing so five times in his first 19 appearances with the Knights.

Putting in Pacioretty, who skated with Stephenson and right wing Mattias Janmark on the third line, should allow the team to spread the workload more evenly. It would also continue a string of recent returns for the Knights, who welcomed defenseman Alec Martinez back to the lineup March 26 against Chicago and defenseman Brayden McNabb on March 30 in Seattle.

“Obviously injuries are part of the game, so you’ve got to adjust,” Martinez said. “That’s why you need depth in the organization. We’ve seen a lot of young guys step up and play really, really well and play big minutes and make big plays at important times. Any time that you get some of those (veteran) guys back, that’s obviously a positive.”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.