Right winger Alex Tuch has been locked in a training camp battle with Erik Haula to open the Golden Knights regular season on the second line.
An injury in the final preseason game will instead force Tuch out of the lineup altogether.
“He’s day-to-day,” said coach Gerard Gallant after practice Tuesday, though he declined to specify whether Tuch’s injury is lower or upper body. “But he’s not playing Thursday.”
His absence will extend beyond opening night after Tuch was placed on the injured-reserve list late Tuesday afternoon.
Haula skated with Paul Stastny and Max Pacioretty on the second line and will likely be in that spot when the puck drops Thursday night for the opener against Philadelphia.