Ducks shut out Golden Knights, hand Fleury first loss of season

LAS VEGAS -- John Gibson made 21 saves for the Anaheim Ducks in a 1-0 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

It was Gibson's third shutout this season and 22nd in the NHL, surpassing Jonas Hiller for third in Anaheim history behind Guy Hebert (27) and Jean-Sebastien Giguere (32).
"I think you have to play with confidence. We put a lot more emphasis on it this trip," Gibson said. "We have some guys stepping up and scoring goals at big times. Tonight, it was a total team effort. It was nice to come away with a big win."
Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves for the Golden Knights (8-2-1), who lost at home in regulation for the first time (7-1-1). It was Fleury's first loss of the season in his sixth start.
Max Comtois scored for the Ducks (6-6-3) in their first win against the Golden Knights this season (1-2-1).
"I just have fun playing out there," Comtois said. "I'm not focused on if I make a mistake out there. I'm trying to find soft spots on the ice and use my shot and surprise goalies."

Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner was expected to start but was a late scratch and is day to day because of an upper-body injury sustained at the morning skate. Oscar Dansk backed up Fleury.
Fleury made 12 saves on 12 shots in the first period, when Vegas had four.
"Unfortunate to waste an effort like that. He was our best player," Golden Knights coach Peter DeBoer said. "Considering the circumstances, he got the call to go in late tonight, it was a great effort by him. I know the guys feel like they let him down tonight."
Anaheim outshot Vegas 21-11 in the first and second periods.
Fleury reached back to make the save with his left arm on Isac Lundestrom cutting across the crease from left to right at 9:53 of the second period, then tossed the puck out of the crease.
Fleury said he was surprised he made the save.
"I knew I was kind of [in trouble] on that one," Fleury said. "I tried to get back for the shot, and he came across, went around my poke check, and hopefully scared him a little bit. I threw my arm back there, tried to cover a little something, and got a little lucky."

Comtois gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 12:18 of the third period with a one-timer off a pass from below the goal line by Rickard Rakell.
Three of Comtois' six goals have come against the Golden Knights. He scored two in the season opener Jan. 14.
"It's a fun building. I like coming here," Comtois said. "It's fun, it's hard to play here. We don't have the most success here, but today was a key point we focused on. We wanted to bring our 'A' game and we did it."
Alex Pietrangelo played a game-high 26:28 for Vegas in his first game since Jan. 26. The defenseman entered NHL COVID-19 protocol Jan. 27 and was removed Tuesday. He missed three games.
"I feel good. I feel rested," Pietrangelo said. "I skated the last four, five days, but other than that I was just home resting. It was a long 10 days, but it's nice to get back in the mix here, get playing again. It's not fun when you're sitting out."
NOTES: The Ducks improved to 2-6-2 at T-Mobile Arena. … Anaheim had 25 blocked shots. ... Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (upper-body injury) did not play and is day to day after a collision with Ducks forward Nicolas Deslauriers in the second period of a 5-4 victory Tuesday.