Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Goaltender Fleury to make his Vegas debut vs. Ducks
Three-time Stanley Cup champion player to start
Of the 36 healthy players who remain in Golden Knights training camp, all but one has played in the preseason.
That changes Sunday. Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will make his debut for the Knights (2-1) when they take on host Anaheim at 5 p.m. at the Honda Center.
“That’s the plan,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “He’ll start.”
Fleury, 33, was a three-time Stanley Cup champion in Pittsburgh and went 18-10-7 with a 3.02 goalsagainst average last season for the Penguins.
He will have a lineup featuring several youngsters in front of him against the Ducks (1-2).
Projected Knights’ forward lines: Teemu Pulkkinen-Erik Haula-T.J. Tynan; William Carrier-Tomas Nosek-Tyler Wong; Keegan Kolesar-William Karlsson-Tomas Hyka; Stefan Matteau-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Paul Thompson.
Projected Knights’ defensive pairings: Jason Garrison-Colin Miller; Brad Hunt-Griffin Reinhart; Jake Bischoff-Brayden McNabb.
Oscar Dansk will back up Fleury in goal.
Out and about
Several players used Friday’s off day as an opportunity to enjoy an outdoor activity around town.
Goaltender Calvin Pickard said he and forward Cody Eakin went for a hike in Red Rock Canyon, while defenseman Nate Schmidt said he and five teammates enjoyed a round of golf at TPC Las Vegas.
So, who is the best golfer on the team?
“Brayden McNabb,” Schmidt said. “He shot 2 under the other day, last time I played with him. That’s impressive. He said that’s the best round he’s ever played, but I think he was just sandbagging me a little bit.”
And the worst golfer?
“I know that I flirt with that line every once in a while,” Schmidt said.
Leipsic out
Left wing Brendan Leipsic did not practice Saturday and will be out another five to seven days, Gallant said.
Leipsic was listed as a starter in Thursday’s 5-2 loss at San Jose, but suffered an undisclosed injury in the pregame warmup and was scratched from the lineup.
“He’ll do some off-ice stuff the next few days and then he’ll be back on the ice,” Gallant said. “It’s not going to eliminate his chances, for
sure.”
Leschyshyn stays in Vegas
The Knights opted to keep firstyear center Jake Leschyshyn in training camp to monitor the final stages of his rehab from a torn ACL suffered in February.
Leschyshyn wore his customary red, noncontact jersey in practice Saturday at City National Arena. Once he is cleared to play, the 18-year-old will return to his major junior team (Regina of the Western Hockey League).
“We just want to make sure he’s getting the best treatment,” Gallant said. “You go back to your junior team, they got good people there, too. But we want to see him here. We want him working here, and he’s skating with NHL players. He’s going to be cleared to play very soon, that’s the hope.”
Roster move
The team confirmed defenseman Chris Casto cleared waivers and will join the training camp of the Chicago Wolves, the Knights’ American Hockey League affiliate.