Golden Knights Step Up Defense, Smother Edmonton Oilers, 3-0, Before 18,421 Wednesday; Coach DeBoer on Fleury: He Was Our Best Player Tonight
By Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com
LVSportsBiz.com photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
There was a playoff-like buzz inside the Big Ice House by the Strip, with the Vegas Golden Knights cloaking division rival Edmonton Oilers and their speedy superstar forward, Connor McDavid, in a big division game Wednesday.
VGK goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury pitched his 61st career shutout just a couple days after the Knights acquired outstanding goalie Robin Lehner from Chicago. Fleury was dialed in and LVSportsBiz.com videotaped post-game comments by the man known as “Flower.”
The Vegas scoring included a goal by newcomer Nick Cousins cleaning up a rebound to make the score, 2-0, in period three. VGK coach Pete DeBoer said Cousins’ had a long day of travel and didn’t skate until he reached T-Mobile Arena. Here’s DeBoer’s post-game comments:
Forward Max Pacioretty opened the scoring in the first period with a wrister from the right side for his 30th of the season.
After the Patches and Cousins goals, VGK defenseman Shea Theodore blasted his tenth goal of the season past Oilers netminder Mikko Koskinen in the final period to complete the scoring.
Here’s Pacioretty at his locker after the game.
It was the Knights’ seventh straight win, with VGK improving to 35-22-8 and 78 points. The Golden Knights stay in first place in the division. Plus free dozen donuts for fans who attended the game. With the big crowd, the Knights are averaging 18,305 fans a game, filling the arena to 105.4 percent of capacity after 34 home dates.
Check out some of DeBoer’s post-game comments:
The game featured newly-acquired goaltender Lehner wearing the number 90 sweater and new forward Cousins donning the former Cody Eakin number 21 jersey.
Here’s the Big 3 VGK fans: Matt, Hulk Hogan and Warmies Guy.
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