Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Void in goal: Golden Knights’ Marc-Andre Fleury placed on injured reserve

Vegas Golden Knights Opener LVNB

Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau

Vegas Golden Knights right wing James Neal (18) congratulates Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) after the Knights home opener Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena. The Knights won 5-2 to extend their winning streak to 3-0.

The Golden Knights have placed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury on the injured reserve with a concussion, the team announced this morning.

Fleury took a knee to the head during the second period of Vegas’ 6-3 loss to Detroit on Friday. Anthony Mantha charged towards the net on a break, and his knee collided with Fleury’s mask after he was pushed by Luca Sbisa.

Fleury laid on the ground holding his head after the play — two warning signs written in the NHL rulebook to trigger the concussion protocol. A trainer walked out to talk with Fleury in net, but he never left the game.

The 32-year-old veteran has a history of concussions, including twice during the 2015-16 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fleury missed two weeks with a concussion in December of 2015 and then again in April of 2016.

“It doesn’t change anything,” coach Gerard Gallant said Saturday. “You have two goalies. Fleury can’t play 82 games. You’d love to see a guy that’s as good as he’s been for us play 82 games but it’s not going to happen. It gives (Malcolm) Subban a chance to go in tomorrow, if he plays tomorrow.”

The Golden Knights claimed Subban off waivers on Oct. 3. The 23-year-old spent most of last season with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League where he had a goals against average of 2.41.

Subban has played only two NHL games — both with the Boston Bruins — and was pulled from both after allowing six goals on only 28 shots combined.

“You need to be ready to go,” Subban said. “I have been working on my game a lot and I feel pretty confident.”

Subban is expected to make his Golden Knights debut at 4 p.m. today against his former team when Vegas hosts Boston at T-Mobile Arena.

“I’m just trying to play like any other game,” Subban said. “I’m here to prove what I can do and show that I can play in the NHL so that’s what I’m trying to aim for.”

With Fleury on the injured reserve, the Golden Knights brought up goaltender Maxime Lagace from the Chicago Wolves. Lagace is 1-1 this year with the Wolves with a 4.05 GAA and should be Subban’s backup.

“(Subban is) a guy with a lot of potential,” Gallant said. “A big, strong kid with a lot of talent. He hasn’t played many NHL games so he has to get a chance to play sooner or later.”

Fleury is expected to miss at least a week but no timetable has been set for his return. The Golden Knights also placed Erik Haula and Jonathan Marchessault on the injured reserve with lower body injuries, replacing them on the active roster with Vadim Shipachyov and Alex Tuch.

Shipachyov and Tuch are expected to make their Golden Knights debut today.

Jesse Granger can be reached at 702-259-8814 or [email protected]. Follow Jesse on Twitter at twitter.com/JesseGranger_.

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