Golden Knights get William Karlsson back for Game 1 against Ducks

William Karlsson has had unfortunate injury luck the past couple of years. Nothing has come close to what he dealt with this year.

Six months off the ice, rehabbing whatever lower-body injury forced him to miss the most time of his NHL career.

“It’s the longest I’ve ever sat out,” Karlsson said. “It’s been challenging.”

No better time than the start of a second-round series to get back into the swing of things.

The Vegas Golden Knights will have Karlsson back in the lineup for Monday’s Game 1 against the Anaheim Ducks after their two-way center had been out since Nov. 8.

“Very excited,” Karlsson said. “I’m ready to go. It’s been a long journey, but now I’m here. It feels good.”

Karlsson hadn’t been seen since he recorded an assist in the first period of the early November matchup against the Ducks.

He made his first appearance on the ice with his teammates Friday prior to the Knights’ clinching Game 6 against the Utah Mammoth.

Coach John Tortorella nor general manager Kelly McCrimmon made any assurances on how close Karlsson was at the time.

Karlsson was a full participant in practice on Sunday but skated as an extra forward. He practiced in Henderson while the Knights were in Utah for Games 3 and 4.

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

The 33-year-old Original Misfit missed a career-high 68 games this season after missing 29 the year before.

Karlsson has been with the team for the entirety of his rehab, but a lot has changed since he last played.

Starting with the new teammates in the locker room, such as defenseman Rasmus Andersson and forwards Nic Dowd and Cole Smith.

There’s also the new voice behind the bench, but one that Karlsson is familiar with.

Tortorella was the coach in Columbus when the Blue Jackets left Karlsson unprotected in the 2017 expansion draft.

“I looked at him yesterday, and he started skating around,” Tortorella said, “and I remembered that stride.”

Karlsson was a bottom-six player in Columbus who primarily killed penalties. He missed two games in two years and had 45 points while playing under Tortorella.

The rest is history. Karlsson erupted with his franchise-record 43-goal season in the Knights’ inaugural campaign and has turned into one of the team’s pillars through nine years.

“I called Bill after we lost him (in the expansion draft), and then he had that great year,” Tortorella said. “I called Bill and I said, ‘Did I screw up?’ … I think he had some magic with his linemates in (Jonathan Marchessault) and (Reilly Smith).

“Just a good man. Doesn’t speak a whole lot. Just plays the game the right way. Looking forward to having him back in the lineup.”

Karlsson laughed when he was reminded of that conversation with Tortorella. He remembered that he was back home in Sweden when it happened.

“A long time ago now,” he said. “I’m a little older now. Maybe it was just meant to be. It’s just the way it goes.”

The Knights are getting one of their best playoff performers back at the perfect time.

Karlsson is fourth in franchise history with 71 points. His 31 goals are third most behind Marchessault and captain Mark Stone for the most in team history.

Monday will mark his 107th playoff game with the Knights, which only trails defenseman Shea Theodore (111).

“I always had the goal in the back of my head that I wanted to return and I always believed. That kind of kept me going,” Karlsson said. “Being around here, just trying to be happy and positive — which I think I am, for the most part — that’s how I believed.”