Fleury due to return from concussion and start Tuesday

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to start against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday night after missing 25 games because of a concussion.

“He looks real good,” coach Gerard Gallant said of Fleury, who practiced Monday for the first time since the injury.

“When we got him [in the expansion draft], he was the face of our franchise. He’s a big part of our club. We’re going to give him all the time he needs to come back, get ready to play. Hopefully, it looks like he’s going to play tomorrow, and we’re looking forward to that.”

Fleury took a knee to the head Oct. 13 from Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha in the second period of a 6-3 loss Oct. 13. He stayed in the game and allowed four goals, but was placed on injured reserve with a concussion the next day.

“It’s been a long time,” said Fleury, who is 3-1-0 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in four starts. “I’ve been waiting for this, just to feel normal, able to be with the team, practice with them and have some fun again. ... It’s fun to be back.”

Wild

Eric Staal is showing the bounce-back season he had with Minnesota in 2016-17 was no fluke. He is the Wild’s leading scorer with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games this season, taking over the scoring lead with two goals and one assist in a 4-3 overtime win Sunday against the San Jose Sharks Sunday. “I think his demise was [written] way too soon,” Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said.

Senators

Forward Alexandre Burrows was fined the maximum $5,000, for roughing San Jose defenseman Dylan DeMelo. The incident occurred Saturday at 14:51 of the third period. Burrows was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for fighting.

Elsewhere

Edmonton center Connor McDavid and Tampa Bay center Steven Stamkos are the leaders so far in the fan vote for captains in the 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game, set for Jan. 28 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is the leader in the Metropolitan Division, and Predators defenseman P.K. Subban is first in the Central. McDavid is followed in the Pacific by Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau, Vegas Golden Knights forward James Neal and Golden Knights goalie Fleury. Ovechkin is followed in Metropolitan voting by Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Islanders center John Tavares, Penguins forward Phil Kessel and Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.