LAS VEGS (KLAS) — Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who has been out of the lineup since late November because of an illness to his 4-year-old daughter, is set to return Saturday night against the New York Islanders.
Pietrangelo’s daughter, Evelyn, lost motor skills after flu-like symptoms and a lesion on her brain, the defenseman told media Saturday morning at the team’s pregame skate. She was unable to walk, talk or even open her eyes, and doctors at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center had to insert a feeding tube.
Pietrangelo said she has improved over the past several days, including being able to walk, and a full recovery is expected.
He missed nine games; he last played Nov. 26, a 5-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena.
Pietrangelo, who turns 33 in January, is in his third season with the Golden Knights. He was selected by St. Louis in the first round of the NHL draft in 2008 and won a Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019.