Prior putting his stamp on Knights
Vegas assistant coach penning ‘fascinating story’ with team’s unproven puckstoppers
LAS VEGAS — Dave Prior has a knack for fast-tracking goalies to the NHL.
The analytical and strategic mind that helped draft and develop 2016 Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby in Washington was brought to Vegas with hopes he would not only work with veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, but also develop the fledgling franchise’s younger netminders.
Little did Prior know his expertise would be so thoroughly put to the test during the first two months of the season.
After Fleury went down with a concussion Oct. 13 and missed the next 25 games, the expansion Golden Knights have enjoyed a historic start thanks in part to four goalies who had seen action in two combined NHL games before this season.
Malcolm Subban, Maxime Lagace and Oscar Dansk saw most of the action, while Dylan Ferguson spent just over nine minutes between the pipes.
And though Fleury lost in his 697th career game Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes in his long-anticipated return, Vegas was still in second place in the Pacific Division with 40 points, three behind the Los Angeles Kings before Thursday’s game against Fleury’s former Penguins teammates.
“It’s been a fascinating story for me as a coach because I haven’t been challenged in this way before,” Prior said. “I don’t think I’ve approached it any different than I have tasks in the past. You’re not usually confronted with replacing one guy after another after another. I had a lot of input into the goaltenders that we signed here and took in the expansion draft.
“The goalies didn’t let me down. I steered them in the direction, but they’ve done all the work.”
The five goalies have a combined .905 save percentage led by Subban, whose .924 save percentage ranked eighth among all goaltenders with a minimum of 10 games played. Among goalies who had played at least four games, Dansk led the league with a .946 save percentage and Fleury was ninth at .930.
Without Fleury, the Golden Knights were 16-8-1, including a stellar 7-1-0 against Pacific Division opponents.
Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said he’s left the goaltenders alone, avoiding interfering with what Prior instilled during training camp.
“I don’t know how he does it. He spends a lot of time in video with these guys, more than I’ve seen in the past,” Gallant said. “He’s just focused on them doing the right things and playing the right way.”