Alex Tuch scored twice, and Marc-Andre Fleury recorded his NHL-leading fourth shutout of the season as the Vegas Golden Knights dominated the San Jose Sharks 4-0 on Saturday night.
Mark Stone and Reilly Smith also found the back of the net, while Tuch and Fleury took control of the game to complete a sweep of the Sharks in the back-to-back matchups. Vegas extended its winning streak to six games.
“We used to have a pretty intense rivalry,” said Vegas forward Jonathan Marchessault. “It’s not quite as fierce as it was in the first two years, but it’s always satisfying to get the win. We came in here and took care of business.”
Fleury stopped all 24 shots he faced, earning his 65th career shutout.
Sharks goalie Devan Dubnyk made 28 saves, but San Jose struggled, losing five of the first six games of its seven-game homestand. The Sharks have allowed 28 goals over this span as Dubnyk and Martin Jones have struggled in net.
Missing key forwards Tomas Hertl, who has remained on the COVID-19 list since Feb. 24, and Timo Meier, who was scratched with a lower-body injury, San Jose also failed to generate much offense.
“I thought we worked hard,” said Sharks coach Bob Boughner. “We did many good things, but Fleury was the difference in the first half of the game. We wore down toward the end.”
Despite a few early chances, Fleury was sharp after resting on Friday following 10 straight starts. He made key saves, including one on Kevin Labanc early and another on Joel Kellman during a breakaway, which led to a Vegas scoring opportunity. Stone capitalized on a give-and-go with Chandler Stephenson to open the scoring on a 2-on-1 rush, giving him 10 points over his last four games. Stone sat out the third period as a precaution.
“That was huge for us. Flower made a great stop and gave us momentum,” said Stephenson. “Stone made a great play, and it’s always nice to grab the lead early, especially on the road.”
Fleury later denied John Leonard from close range in the first period and again on a rebound early in the second. Tuch then took over the game, scoring on a rush with a shot past Dubnyk and adding another after a lucky bounce. A clearing attempt by Brent Burns hit Logan Couture and fell to Tuch, who backhanded the puck into the open net.
Tuch now has eight goals in his last seven games and 12 in 21 games this season, a marked improvement from his eight goals in 42 games last season.
“I think it’s a little puck luck,” Tuch said. “I’m just playing my game, playing hard and fast, and building chemistry with my linemates.”
Surprise Move
The Golden Knights’ trip to San Jose took an unexpected twist. After finishing their pregame meal at their hotel on Friday, they were informed they had to pack up and leave, as the Fairmont Hotel declared bankruptcy and was closing immediately. The team found new accommodations and stayed there following Friday’s game.
“I think that’s a first for everyone on our team,” said defenseman Nick Holden.
Up Next
- Golden Knights: Travel to Minnesota for a game against the Wild on Monday night.
- Sharks: Conclude their seven-game homestand by hosting the St. Louis Blues on Monday night.
