Tomas Hertl Crashes Into Boards High-Speed, Golden Knights Get Update On Injury Status

The Vegas Golden Knights could be without their top goal scorer for a time after a scaring-looking collision with the boards in Sunday's game. Tomas Hertl was shoved from behind at high speed by Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg, leading to a violent crash into the end boards.

A cheap shot on the hottest player on the VGK roster, and maybe the entire NHL when Tomas Hertl went to the locker room after this shove into the boards. #VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/mOReURsAmQ
— Chris Maathuis (@sports8) March 24, 2025

One of the biggest questions is why this was immediately changed by the officials from a five-minute major to a minor penalty for boarding.

Hertl has two hat tricks in his last eight games, and is playing some of the best hockey of his career. He's averaged 1.3 points in the last 10 games, and leads Vegas with 31 goals. He's also set the Knights' team record with 14 goals on the power play.

Insider Elliotte Friedman noted on his 32 Thoughts podcast that "I didn't like what I was hearing (last night)... Initially, the word wasn't great but I'm just hoping that's wrong." He added that he heard the Golden Knights were "a little bit concerned about it," while stating the obvious that it would be "a major, major loss" for the Vegas lineup heading into the playoffs.

We're now hearing that Hertl will miss their three-game road trip they left for today, and has, in fact, been ruled out for the rest of this week. He will continue to undergo testing to determine the full severity of the injury and a more specific timeline. It appears to be a shoulder issue.

With the 4-1 win over Tampa, Vegas now sits at 42-20-8 for 92 points atop the Pacific Division, five points up on the LA Kings & Edmonton Oilers.

Hertl has 31 goals and 59 points in 70 games this season.