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Vegas Golden Knights: Marc-Andre Fleury Earns 400th Career Win

By Richard Cardinale

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: Ryan Carpenter #40, Nate Schmidt #88, and Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on March 12, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tonight's win is Fleury's 400th of his NHL career. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 12: Ryan Carpenter #40, Nate Schmidt #88, and Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on March 12, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tonight's win is Fleury's 400th of his NHL career. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The three-time Stanley Cup champion is doing wonders for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Going 4-1 on a road trip in a different timezone isn’t a simple task, and that’s exactly what the Vegas Golden Knights were gunning for out east. Despite all the injuries the Golden Knights have suffered out on the road, they persevered and earned eight huge points. The team relied on Marc-Andre Fleury heavily during the trip, and he didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

The Golden Knights came into Philadelphia hunting down their fourth win on the road trip. The team is still without star forwards Reilly Smith and James Neal. That means nothing but more mixing and matching for head coach Gerard Gallant.

Alex Tuch ended up earning the promotion to the top line with William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault. Ryan Carpenter skated with Cody Eakin and former Flyer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Fleury received his sixth straight start as he is playing some of his best hockey of the season.

In the first period, the Golden Knights went on the power play thanks to a Flyers too many men on the ice miscue. Vegas took full advantage of the power play, and Erik Haula banked it on off of the Flyers defenseman’s skate. His 25th goal of the season gave the expansion franchise an early 1-0 lead.

Overall, the first period was super solid for the Golden Knights. They created multiple scoring chances and limited the Flyers to nine shots in the first. Vegas went into the middle frame with a one-goal advantage. Although, the visiting team let their foot off the gas.

Gallant’s squad was in disarray right from the getgo in the second period. A disastrous shift from the Eakin line and a Shea Theodore turnover early in the second led to Claude Giroux’s goal that just beat Fleury and tied the game at one. Somehow, Fleury kept the game tied throughout the second period as he withstood the relentless Philadelphia attack.

In the third, the Golden Knights once again went back on the power play when Travis Sanheim high-sticked Haula four and a half minutes in the period. The Golden Knights cashed in when Theodore took a massive slap shot that deflected off Tomas Hyka to Karlsson who jammed in the back of the net. His  36th of the year gave the Golden Knights a one-goal advantage again.

However, the lead was short-lived as Brayden McNabb took a hooking call shortly after the goal. From a nearly impossible angle, Wayne Simmonds tied the game at two with a snipe past the Flower. Jakub Voracek and Shayne Gostisbehere assisted on Simmonds 21st of the year that pulled the Flyers in a tie.

In the dying minutes of the final frame, a total team effort took place along the boards with great plays by Jon Merrill and Bellemare, then Eakin found Carpenter who roofed it past Mrazek for his eighth goal of the year and the eventual game-winning goal. The Oviedo, Florida native continues to be one of the best waiver pickups in the NHL this season.

The Flyers made one final push, but they couldn’t put one past Fleury late as time expired. The win gave the Sorel, Quebec native his 400th NHL victory. What a career for the Flower thus far as he’s already writing his path to the hall of fame.

My Three Stars

#3 star- Claude Giroux

It seemed like whenever the Flyers received a scoring chance Giroux was right in the middle of it. He finished with a goal, a plus-one rating and 22:41 of TOI. Without a doubt the best Flyers player on the ice tonight.

#2 star- Ryan Carpenter

Carpenter didn’t have the best game overall, but he came up with another clutch goal that clinched the victory. His hard work and physical brand of hockey he brings on an everyday basis is a huge compliment on this roster.

#1 star- Marc- Andre Fleury

Who else would be the number one star? The Flower stopped 38 of 40 shots en route to his 400th career win. He made all the timely saves and flashed the glove hand on multiple occasions.

Next: Vegas Golden Knights Break Another Expansion Record

All in all, a successful road trip is precisely what the Vegas Golden knights needed. Now its time for some home cooking as the Golden Knights are at T-Mobile Arena for the next four games starting on Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils. Catch puck drop at 7 PM PT with Dave Goucher and Shane Hnidy on AT&T Sportsnet.

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