Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Gallant mum on starting netminder
Subban, back from injury, or Lagace in clash vs. Kings
Whose net is it?
That’s the question everyone wants to know as the Golden Knights return to T-Mobile Arena on Sunday to host the Los Angeles Kings at 5 p.m.
Will Malcolm Subban return in goal after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury? Or will Maxime Lagace, who has started the past eight games, remain in the crease?
Both said they will be ready.
“I want to get back in the lineup and play,” Subban said after Saturday’s practice at City National Arena, where he was a full participant. “But a lot comes with that. A lot of hard work, getting your game back in practice.”
Coach Gerard Gallant wouldn’t talk about the situation. But with Subban having been taken off injured reserve and Dylan Ferguson having returned to his junior team in Kamloops, British Columbia, at least there’s now a pathway to start Subban.
“I know who we’re going to start,” Gallant said. “I’ll let you know before (Sunday’s) game.”
Lagace is coming off a 19-save effort in Thursday’s 5-2 win at Vancouver. And while his numbers aren’t great — 3-5-1 with a 3.87 goalsagainst average and an .864 save percentage — he has played well when his defensemen have done their jobs and cleared rebounds and limited second- and third-chance opportunities.
“I feel like we work together really well,” Legace said of teaming with Subban. “It’s good to have him back.”
Ferguson was in goal Friday for his junior team, stopping 23 shots in the Kamloops Blazers’ 6-2 home win over the Vancouver Giants.
Kids cancer visit
It’s Hockey Fights Cancer month in the NHL, and 11 Knights players
spent Saturday afternoon visiting patients at the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation on East Sunset Road.
The players participated in painting T-shirts with 50 patients, posed
for photos and signed autographs.
The NCCF, which has been helping pediatric cancer patients since 1993, has more than 45 programs and services.
The Knights will celebrate Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Nov. 28 against Dallas at T-Mobile Arena. In the warmup, players will wear special lavender jerseys, which will be auctioned, with a portion of the proceeds going to the NCCF. Several patients will accompany the players on the ice in a pregame ceremony.
The foundation is supported through grants and donations. For more information, go to nvccf.org.
Sbisa still out
Defenseman Luca Sbisa did not practice Saturday and remains on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Also, Gallant had no definitive update on goaltenders Marc-Andre Fleury, who has been out since Oct. 13 with a concussion, and Oscar Dansk, who injured his lower body on Oct. 30.