LAS VEGAS — Hockey fans in southern Nevada still love Marc-Andre Fleury.
The adoration overflowed Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, where the 18-year veteran led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for their game against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Fans lined the end boards, pounded the glass, held up signs and cheered for the man who was the face of the Golden Knights for their first four years in the league. The sold-out crowd then erupted into a frenzy when a one-minute tribute video was played just before puck drop.
Fleury made 31 saves and gave up just one goal in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory over the Golden Knights. He has now beaten all 32 teams in the NHL.
Fleury said he was glad the tribute video was shown before the game rather than during it, saying it would have been hard to get through the game otherwise.
“It was good to get it out of the way quick,” Fleury said. “Obviously, it’s just a few images and videos, but a lot of memories come through seeing that. I was really fortunate to have a great time here in Vegas.”
Saturday marked Fleury’s first trip back into an arena he dominated during his four years with the Golden Knights. His strong play inside T-Mobile Arena continued Saturday, as he stopped 28 straight shots after Ben Hutton gave Vegas a 1-0 lead early.
Fleury stymied the league’s third-highest scoring team to its lowest score in more than two months. It marked just the fourth time this season Vegas has been held to one goal or fewer. It was the Golden Knights’ lowest scoring output since being shut out 4-0 in Toronto on Nov. 2.
“I wish there was no goals, [would have] been better,” Fleury said afterward.
Fleury instantaneously became the face of the Vegas franchise and a fan favorite, long before he led the expansion club to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season. His dazzling smile and personality and involvement throughout southern Nevada helped stitch himself into the city’s athletic fabric alongside the likes of Jerry…
Source : espn
