Marc-Andre Fleury delivered another stellar performance, stopping 34 shots. Alex Tuch scored twice during a dominant second period as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Monday night.
Fleury’s acrobatic saves, including a spectacular one where he threw his left pad into the air to deny a goal, epitomized Colorado’s frustration. Fleury’s effort earned him his 64th career shutout, tying him with Henrik Lundqvist for 16th on the all-time list.
Having witnessed many of them firsthand, Vegas coach Pete DeBoer wasn’t surprised by Fleury’s heroics.
“You don’t win multiple Stanley Cups or post these kinds of numbers by accident,” DeBoer said. “There were some huge momentum saves when we were ahead. If he lets one in, that could change the game, and against a team like Colorado, they can quickly turn one goal into two or three.”
The Golden Knights and Avalanche split their four-game series, with both teams winning twice. Vegas came out strong in the finale, with DeBoer emphasizing the importance of sending a message.
The setting for Monday’s game, inside Ball Arena, was a stark contrast to the outdoor spectacle on the shores of Lake Tahoe on Saturday, where an eight-hour delay due to ice conditions disrupted the game. There were no delays this time, and the Golden Knights took control in the second period.
Tuch, playing on the top line after DeBoer shuffled his combinations, broke the scoreless tie early in the second, slipping past two defenders to score. Minutes later, Tuch struck again, as his shot deflected off Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram and found the back of the net. Jonathan Marchessault added a third goal to cap off Vegas’ dominant second period.
“I didn’t like our defensive play,” said Avalanche coach Jared Bednar. “They beat us to pucks and won the battles. We looked sluggish.”
Colorado goalie Philipp Grubauer made 25 saves but couldn’t stop Vegas’ second-period surge.
Fleury made several highlight-reel saves, including a lunging block on Nathan MacKinnon and an acrobatic leg save to deny Nazem Kadri. Two of Fleury’s three shutouts this season have come against the Avalanche.
“Fleury’s always tough to beat, but this loss is on us,” Colorado defenseman Cale Makar said.
Game Notes:
- The Avalanche donned their reverse retro jerseys, inspired by the team’s time as the Quebec Nordiques. Defenseman Devon Toews praised the look, calling them “the best in the league.”
- Colorado defenseman Dennis Gilbert will miss at least a month after facial surgery, while no return timeline has been set for Erik Johnson (upper body) and Pavel Francouz (lower body).
- Vegas goaltender Robin Lehner (upper body) did not travel with the team, and forward Tomas Nosek (COVID-19 protocol) still has no set return date.
Up Next:
- Golden Knights: Travel to San Jose to face the Sharks on Thursday.
- Avalanche: Host the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday before embarking on a four-game road trip.
