Blog: Early scoring, Fleury push Golden Knights into playoff position

By Justin Emerson

Published Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 | 3:30 p.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018 | 9:45 p.m.

Never mind that they were playing the second game of a back-to-back, the Golden Knights looked as good as they have all season Saturday.

Vegas scored four goals in the first period, then one apiece in the second and third, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 33 saves as the Golden Knights blew out the San Jose Sharks, 6-0 at T-Mobile Arena.

It was Fleury's league-leading fifth shutout, and second in as many nights after blanking the Calgary Flames on Friday.

William Karlsson set a new franchise record by scoring 14 seconds into the game, Colin Miller followed suit and Max Pacioretty scored twice to give the Golden Knights a 4-0 lead after 20 minutes.

William Carrier scored on a breakaway in the second, his fourth of the season. Reilly Smith also had a pair of assists.

Shea Theodore picked up a poor clear attempt from San Jose in the Sharks' zone in the third period, and gave Tuch a wide-open look he did not miss.

The six goals tied for Vegas' season-high, matching the effort in Edmonton on Sunday.

Come back to lasvegassun.com later for more coverage.

Vegas adds to lead in second

William Carrier felt left out of the fun.

Carrier added to the Golden Knights' total, breakaway from the Sharks defense and beating goalie Aaron Dell for the fifth Vegas goal of the game at 3:27 of the second period.

San Jose peppered Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the early part of the period, but could not capitalize when Carrier took a minor penalty. The Golden Knights even had a good look on the penalty kill, but Dell robbed Reilly Smith on a two-on-break with William Karlsson.

Things went from bad to worse for San Jose, losing forward Evander Kane to a game misconduct after he argued with officials following a tripping call against him.

San Jose outshot the Golden Knights in the second period, 14-10.

Golden Knights blitz San Jose in first

Vegas did not waste any time getting its first goal of the game. Or its second. Or its third. Or its fourth.

First William Karlsson scored 14 seconds into the game. Karlsson was stationed in front of San Jose goalie Aaron Dell and was in perfect position to cash in after the Brayden McNabb shot bounced off Dell's pads, off Karlsson and into the net.

It was the fastest goal to start a game in team history.

Colin Miller was next, sliding one past Dell from the right circle at 4:40.

Then at 9:29, Reilly Smith wound up from the point on the power play, drawing San Jose defender Tomas Hertl away from Max Pacioretty in the slot. Smith gave to Pacioretty, who one-timed it past Dell for the Golden Knights' third goal on seven shots.

The fourth was Pacioretty again, after Alex Tuch skated by Dell, who poked the puck away but right to Pacioretty. The second goal of the game was just as on-target as the first.

Shots were even after the first period, 11-11.

Pre-game

The last time Marc-Andre Fleury started both games of a back-to-back lat Oct. 6-7: the first two games in Golden Knights history.

The San Jose Sharks visit T-Mobile Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday, and Fleury will be back in net, one night after blanking the Calgary Flames with 29 saves.

"He played real well last night and feels good today," coach Gerard Gallant said. "We think it's a good situation for him to go back-to-back."

Gallant doesn’t like to have his goalies play two games in two days, and Saturday will be the fifth time it has happened in team history. He mentioned that yesterday was an afternoon game, giving Fleury and the rest of the team some extra rest as opposed to back-to-back night games.

He denied, however, that it had anything to do with back Malcolm Subban giving up seven goals in Monday’s loss in Calgary.

"We try to win games and he played an outstanding game last night, why wouldn't we go back to him?" Gallant said.

Saturday is the first time the Sharks and Golden Knights, prohibitive favorites to win the Pacific Division coming into the season. Gallant and players downplayed the idea that it was more important than any other division game.

"I think at this point it's just another game that we kind of have to work through," defenseman Shea Theodore said. "To get these two straight wins and come into tonight with some confidence with our group, I think it's going to be a good game."

Emerson’s Prediction: Golden Knights 3, Sharks 2

Season record for predictions: Keefer 5-4, Emerson 0-2

Pick to score the Golden Knights’ first goal: Reilly Smith

Season record for first goal scored: Keefer 1-for-9, Emerson 0-for-2

TV: AT&T SportsNet (DirecTV 684, Cox 1313, CenturyLink 1760)

Radio: Fox Sports 1340 AM and 98.9 FM

Betting line: Golden Knights plus-105, Sharks minus-110; over/under: 5.5 (plus-105, minus-115)

Golden Knights (11-12-1) (6-3-1 home)

Coach: Gerard Gallant (second season)

Goals leader: Jonathan Marchessault (10)

Assists leader: William Karlsson (12)

Expected goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury (2.45 gaa, .907 save percentage)

San Jose Sharks (12-7-4) (4-4-2 road)

Coach: Bill Peters (first season)

Goals leader: Timo Meier, Joe Pavelski (13)

Assists leader: Brent Burns (21)

Expected goalie: Aaron Dell (2.12 gaa, .928 save percentage)

Golden Knights expected game day roster

Forwards (12): Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, William Carrier, Ryan Carpenter, Daniel Carr, Cody Eakin, William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Tomas Nosek, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Reaves, Reilly Smith, Alex Tuch

Defensemen (6): Deryk Engelland, Nick Holden, Brayden McNabb, Colin Miller, Nate Schmidt, Shea Theodore

Goalies (2): Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban