Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury back on ice after concussion

By Jesse Granger

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 | 1:41 p.m.

For the first time in nearly a month, Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury took the ice this morning at City National Arena.

Fleury was placed on injured reserve after suffering a concussion on Oct. 13.

The 32-year-old veteran goalie took a knee to the head during the second period of Vegas’ 6-3 loss to Detroit. Anthony Mantha charged toward the net on a break, and his knee hit Fleury’s mask after he was pushed by Luca Sbisa.

It was Fleury’s third recorded concussion of his career. He suffered two during the 2015-16 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The team has provided no updates on Fleury’s status, except on Oct. 23 when coach Gerard Gallant said, “I think it’s days. Not this week, but I think he’s getting better every day. He’s on (injured reserve) but we don’t expect it to be long term...Once he gets back on the ice, he’s probably four to five days away.”

Today’s workout is an encouraging sign that he could be back soon.

Prior to the concussion, Fleury was spectacular in net for Vegas. He was 3-1 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

Rookie goaltender Dylan Ferguson, who was recalled on an emergency basis from his junior club, the Kamloops Blazers, is expected to return to Kamloops soon. That could mean a return by Fleury by Tuesday’s game in Edmonton, or even Friday’s contest against the Winnipeg Jets at T-Mobile Arena.

Oscar Dansk, who was 3-0 with a 1.78 goals-against average before suffering a lower body injury on Oct. 30, could also be nearing a return. The initial diagnosis from the Golden Knights was that Dansk would miss the remainder of the road trip, which wrapped up Tuesday in Montreal.

Then there’s Malcolm Subban, who suffered a lower body injury Oct. 21. He was originally expected to miss four weeks, which would put his possible return somewhere around the Golden Knights’ Nov. 22 game in Anaheim.

The Golden Knights have suffered more goaltender injuries in a month than most teams do in an entire season, but it appears they could be getting back to full strength soon.