Golden Knights' Mark Stone a game-time decision Tuesday at Canucks

The Vegas Golden Knights began Monday two points back of the Los Angeles Kings with a game in hand in the race for third place in the Pacific Division standings and also two points behind the Dallas Stars for the conference's second wild-card playoff berth with Dallas holding a game in hand. 

Vegas could have a key contributor back in the lineup for Tuesday's pivotal game at the Vancouver Canucks, who trail Los Angeles and Dallas by six points in the standings. 

According to the NHL's website and Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Sun, Golden Knights forward and captain Mark Stone was a full-contact participant for Monday's practice and will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's contest. Stone hasn't played since Feb. 8 and has been sidelined with a lingering back injury. 

"It's a possibility. We'll see. I would call it a game-time (decision)," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer told reporters about Stone's status. "He is going to travel with us and we will make a decision then.

"He's a critical piece for us and we've missed him so even to have him out there even if he's not at 100 percent and full game speed, it's nice to have him back and integrated with the group."

Stone has been limited to just 28 games this season and has thus far recorded a total of eight goals and 20 assists across those matchups. If the 29-year-old can't play Tuesday, his next opportunity to return would be for Thursday's game at the Calgary Flames. The Flames sit atop the Pacific Division standings. 

"I think we all know the situation," DeBoer added about his club's position in the table. "I will say we're not going to make or miss the playoffs in the next five days. However it goes, we've got to make sure we manage the fact that I think this is going to come down to the last couple games of the season."

To add Stone to the active roster, Webster notes that Vegas would have to move $4.495 million in salary-cap space and may add multiple players to long-term injured reserve to achieve that goal.