Stone returns vs. Stars after 14-game injury absence

Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone returned to action Friday against the Dallas Stars after missing 14 games with a lower-body injury.

"Yeah, I feel good," Stone said before the game, according to NHL.com. "Definitely took longer than I anticipated when it first happened. Ready to go. Team's playing good, so excited to get back into the lineup."

Stone had been out since he was injured Nov. 6 against the Edmonton Oilers. His status was originally labeled as day-to-day. The Golden Knights went 8-4-2 in his absence.

Stone retook his spot on the top line with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev.

Head coach Bruce Cassidy expected Stone to be up to speed quickly.

"There's going to be rust, there always is," Cassidy said. "But with him, it seems like there's less. He's such a cerebral player, and you don't lose that."

Stone produced 21 points in 13 games before his injury. The hot start secured him a spot on Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off squad.