The shutout was the third of Fleury's career against the Canes.
"Tonight was probably … the game I didn't like the most of all of them," head coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "Even saying that, it was a grind game. There wasn't a lot going on for either team, but we've got to try to find ways to put the puck in the net. That's been the challenge here."
Two
The Hurricanes' first period was better than a night ago in Arizona, when they were slow to start and found themselves in a 3-0 hole after 20 minutes. Tonight, the penalty kill got an early work out and held the Golden Knights without a shot.
After a power play that failed to convert, the Canes successfully killed off a too many men bench minor, but Vegas maintained possession of the puck, and Erik Haula found Brad Hunt open in the slot for the first goal of the game.
"The first goal is huge. Every team is looking to get it. You get that one of these nights and go from there, and I'm sure the game will feel a lot easier," Faulk said. "It's important to know that games get tighter. It's not the first week of the season when everyone is still trying to get the feel of it and get back into it."
From there, the Hurricanes were chasing the game.
"Both teams were working hard, and they got the better of us," Brind'Amour said. "That early goal in the first just put us on our heels a little bit, and we weren't able to get one by Fleury. He made some nice saves."
"It's tough to play come back every night, it really is, especially on the road in the second half of a back-to-back. It's tough to get down early, and we seem to be doing that the last couple of games," Williams said. "That takes a toll, and it's tough on you."
Three
The Golden Knights built on their lead in the second period when Ryan Reaves banged in the puck from the slot after Shea Theodore had two shots blocked.
A 2-0 game became a 3-0 game in the third period, as William Carrier scored his first of the season three-and-a-half minutes in.
"It's tough mentally getting down. We had a decent start, yes, but we need to keep pushing," Williams said. "Getting that (first) goal is certainly important for us, but at the same time, we let them get to two and then get to three. At that point, it makes it a lot more tough."
Four
The Canes nearly broke through on a pair of power-play chances in the third period. Dougie Hamilton rung a wrist shot off the post that then bounced to Williams. He gloved it down in the crease but wasn't able to get a stick on it before it rolled in the net. No goal.
Not too long after, Micheal Ferland found the outside of the post as he let go of a wrist shot skating down the near wing.
"There have been plenty of opportunities we've had creating chances and shots, putting ourselves in a position to score goals," Faulk said. "You've got to keep grinding and keep battling."
The chances were there on the man advantage, but again, the power play (0-for-3) couldn't make a difference for the Hurricanes.
"I'd like to always see more chances. I don't think we had a lot of grade-A opportunities," Brind'Amour said. "We're trying to find different guys and different units to get some traction there."
Five
On the opposite side of special teams, the penalty kill successfully dispatched four minor infractions and allowed just three shots on goal. Meanwhile, the team also generated three shorthanded shots on goal. Jordan Staal had one of those quality opportunities when he poked the puck off Theodore's stick along the goal line and nearly snuck it past his former Pittsburgh teammate in net. Down 2-0 at the time, that would have sliced Vegas' 2-0 lead in half. Alas.
"Didn't give up too much on it," Brind'Amour said of his team's kill, which came into the game ranked last in the league.
Up Next
The Canes' four-game road trip will continue in St. Louis with a match-up with the Blues on Tuesday.
"You can feel sorry about yourself and hang your head, but nobody cares about that," Brind'Amour said. "We're going to get back to work and keep trying to get better. That's the only thing you can do."
