Fleury lifts Golden Knights past Ducks, climbs NHL wins list

LAS VEGAS -- Marc-Andre Fleury got his 455th win to move into sixth place in NHL history among goalies when the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday.

Fleury, who made 26 saves and broke a tie with Curtis Joseph, is three wins from tying New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist for fifth place.
"It's a long season," said Fleury, who has won consecutive starts since allowing seven goals in a 7-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 23. "I feel fortunate to have played for a long time. It's humbling to be among these guys."
WATCH: [All Ducks vs. Golden Knights highlights]
Jonathan Marchessault scored twice for the Golden Knights (22-15-6) who are 6-2-1 in their past nine games and have won the first two games of a season-long, seven-game homestand.

Vegas, which lost 4-3 at Anaheim on Friday, finished 9-4-2 in December.
"Early on it wasn't there, but in December we've been better," Marchessault said. "We're a better team overall. The month of December has been positive and it's on us to keep it going."
Korbinian Holzer and Jakob Silfverberg scored, and John Gibson made 38 saves including 20 in the first period, for the Ducks (16-19-5).

Anaheim is 2-4-1 in its past seven games and has not won consecutive games since Oct. 29 and Nov. 1.
The Ducks allowed at least two goals for the 15th consecutive game.
"At times, we've played some really good hockey, but it's way too inconsistent," Silfverberg said. "Every night has to be a hard-working night. Hopefully, we can string some games together."
Holzer scored his first goal of the season at 8:13 of the first period to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead.
Mark Stone scored his third goal in two games at 14:36 to tie it 1-1, and Alex Tuch was credited with a goal at 19:40 to give the Golden Knights a 2-1 lead when Josh Manson put the puck in his own net.
Reilly Smith scored at 17:55 of the second period to make it 3-1.

Marchessault made it 4-1 at 10:56 of the third when he was awarded a penalty shot after getting slashed by Manson.
Silfverberg scored at 14:34 of the third to make it 4-2.
"They were the better team for 60 minutes," Silfverberg said. "Getting that one towards the end of the third, you get a little bit of life. You never know what's going to happen. [Gibson] was terrific tonight, but the rest of the team didn't play as good. It was a tough game."
Marchessault scored an empty-net goal with 1:54 remaining for the 5-2 final.
"I think the last six weeks, there might have been a game or two we didn't like, but for the most part, we've been real good," Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. "I don't think we've had a bad season. I'd like our record to be a little better than what it is, but we've been playing good hockey."

They said it

"It's frustrating when we go out and we're not ready to play. It's a privilege to play in the National Hockey League and it feels like some guys are taking it for granted." -- Ducks goalie John Gibson
"It was just a bad game (on Friday). Sometimes it's going to happen, like Colorado (on Dec. 23). It doesn't reflect the way we play overall. We're a good team, and sometimes bad games happen. It's about how you respond."-- Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault

Need to know

Fleury ended the 2010s with 322 wins, 13 more than Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators, who was second with 309. … Gibson has allowed at least two goals in his past 11 consecutive starts. … The Golden Knights improved to 29-8-6 all-time in December. … Vegas is 9-2-0 against Anaheim. ... Tuch's goal was his first in 12 games. … Marchessault, who has five goals in his past six games, scored his third penalty shot goal since 2012-13, trailing only Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand (four). … Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt got his 100th NHL assist on Marchessault's empty-net goal.

What's next

Ducks:At the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A, FS-A PLUS, FS-W, NHL.TV)
Golden Knights:Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN360, SNE, SNO, ATTSN-RM, NBCSP, NHL.TV)