Jason Garrison’s patience pays off in return to Golden Knights

TAMPA, Fla. — Jason Garrison hoped he would be back in the NHL sooner. But he can do simple math and the veteran defenseman knew there were too many players in front of him with the Golden Knights.

He also knew the team was going through a successful first half and change wasn’t forthcoming for the sake of change.

Garrison was recalled Tuesday from the Chicago Wolves, the Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate, and practiced with the team Wednesday afternoon at Amalie Arena. Garrison could be in the lineup Thursday when the Knights face the Tampa Bay Lightning, Garrison’s old team.

“It’s good. Obviously a lot of my best years of being a professional, most of my best memories are from playing here,” he said Wednesday. “It’s always fun playing here and first time back it’s going to be fun seeing the guys on the ice.”

Garrison, who appeared in four games with the Knights and had one assist, said he understood the situation and he played well with the Wolves. In 31 games, he had four goals and 14 assists, the most by a Chicago defenseman.

“The situation is you’ve got to always look at the positives and the positives of the team is they’ve been really successful,” he said. “Whether you’re here or you’re in Chicago, you’re part of it. It was fun to watch and it’s fun to be playing again here.”

Nosek out

Forward Tomas Nosek will be out indefinitely after suffering a right shoulder injury in the first period of Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Nashvillle.

Nosek returned to Las Vegas on Wednesday to be examined by team doctors. Coach Gerard Gallant had no details of Nosek’s condition other than to say he is not with the team.

Eakin, Leipsic practice

Cody Eakin and Brendan Leipsic practiced after sitting out Tuesday and both could return to the lineup against the Lightning. They were paired with regular linemate Alex Tuch while Ryan Carpenter took Nosek’s place on the fourth line with Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Will Carrier.

Back from bye

The Lightning will be playing their first game in seven days. Tampa Bay is coming off a 5-1 loss to Calgary on Jan. 11 and has lost three of its last five games.

All-Star defenseman Victor Hedman is out three to six weeks with an injury to his left knee after a collision with Calgary’s Garnet Hathaway.

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Contact Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow @stevecarprj on Twitter.