Neal has been sent back to Calgary with an upper-body injury, which is believed to be related to getting hit in the face by a puck in St. Louis on Sunday. Sam Bennett, who didn’t play Sunday, is expected to replace him.

Neal will miss his eighth straight game with a hand injury and remains listed as “day-to-day.” Neal did not take the ice for the morning skate on Wednesday, so it seems unlikely that he will play Friday vs. the Wild either.

Neal has missed the last three games with an illness, but head coach Gerard Gallant said that Neal has had a couple of good skates so they’ll see where he’s at on Monday. Neal has been a horse for the Golden Knights this season, picking up 24 goals and 15 assists (39 points) in 58 games.

It is the same illness Neal was dealing with last week. He will be a game-time decision so monitor his status accordingly.

Despite being on the non-roster injury list, Neal will play in the season opener after participating in the last few practices. Neal will be expected to carry the Golden Knigts offence for much of the season and he will start on a line with Cody Eakin and David Perron.

Neal sat out of the preseason while rehabbing a broken hand that he suffered during the Western Conference Final last season and will miss the start of the regular season. However, Neal was skating on the Golden Knights’ second line during Tuesday’s practice, so that suggests that he might not be too far off. Vegas is going to struggle to find offence in their inaugural season and Neal’s health will be imperative if they’re going to have any success.