Wild Bill gets back in the fight

William “Wild Bill” Karlsson did not need a perfect return to make it meaningful. After nearly six months away, one of the Golden Knights’ original Misfits returned Monday in Vegas’ 3-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of the second round at T-Mobile Arena.

Karlsson was back in the lineup, back in the playoff noise and back in a game that looked exactly like the kind Vegas trusts him to play. It was tight, physical and uncomfortable. That made his return fit.

Right back to work

“It’s been a long journey, but now I’m here,” Karlsson said after morning skate. “It feels good.”

Karlsson had not played since suffering a lower-body injury against Anaheim on Nov. 8. He spent months working toward this moment, even while the roster changed around him and the Knights pushed through the first round without him.

Still, he never let the target move.

“I always had hope,” Karlsson said. “I think that’s what kept me motivated through it all.”

No easing into it

Karlsson did not score in Game 1, and he took a second-period high-sticking penalty. However, the point was never that he would step in after six months and carry the offense.

The point was that Vegas got back one of its most reliable two-way pieces at the right time.

Head coach John Tortorella made that clear before the game.

“He doesn’t speak a lot,” Tortorella said. “Just plays the game the right way.”