Fleury Returns In First Start After Father’s Death, Dominates Chicago In 5-1 VGK Win Before 18,319 Tuesday
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
He mourned and coped with the loss of his father. Then Tuesday night in his first start back, Marc-Andre Fleury did what comes naturally — stop pucks and pile up wins.
The crowd of announced attendance of 18,319 gave Fleury a rousing ovation when the goaltender’s name was announced to start the game at the Big Ice House and the Golden Knights went on to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-1. Chicago scored with 27 seconds left in the game.
At his corner locker room stall, Fleury talked of the emotions of playing his first game back after losing his father.
“I thought of him a lot,” Fleury said.
Coach Gerard Gallant said he was pleased with the Knights’ performance, noting each of the four lines scored and even defenseman Deryk Engelland shot a puck that hit the back of the net.
After a scoreless first period, VGK forward Reilly Smith scored his 13th goal of the season by sneaking a puck past Chicago goalie Corey Crawford, Engelland scored his first of the season to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
Then it was William Karlsson’s turn, scoring a shorthanded goal to give the Knights a 3-0 lead at the end of two periods.
Max Pacioretty tapped in an easy goal off a feed from Mark Stone for a 4-0 VGK lead in the third period. Ryan Reaves added his third goal of the season to complete the VGK scoring. The Blackhawks scored with less than a half-minute to go in the game. A VGK win and emotional victory for Fleury. But no promotional Krispy Kreme dozen donuts that are given to fans who attend the VGK shutout game.
So close to those donuts, though.
Still, the home fans savored the VGK win after the Rangers shut out the Knights, 5-0, two days ago.
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