EditorsNote: Corrects spelling of Stephenson in 5th graf
Alex Tuch and Marc-Andre Fleury continued their torrid tears as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the host San Jose Sharks 4-0 Saturday night to sweep their two-game series.
Tuch scored twice and Fleury made 24 saves for the Golden Knights, whose sixth consecutive victory extended their lead in the West Division. Mark Stone and Reilly Smith also scored for Vegas.
Tuch, who also tallied in Friday night's 5-4 overtime victory against the Sharks, has eight goals over his past seven games to tie Max Pacioretty for the team lead with 12 goals.
Fleury, whose streak of 10 consecutive starts - due to Robin Lehner sidelined by an upper-body injury -- ended Friday when Oscar Dansk made his first appearance of the year, posted his fourth shutout of the season. He has allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his 15 starts.
The Golden Knights took the lead at 15:02 of the first period. A kick save by Fleury started a two-on-one break, with Stone and Chandler Stephenson passing the puck back and forth before Stone put a forehand shot just inside the left post as Sharks goalie Devan Dubnyk tried to scramble across the crease.
Tuch scored two unassisted goals in the second period.
The first, at 5:01, came after a San Jose defender misplayed a bouncing puck at center ice. Tuch gained possession along the boards, drove over the blue line and unleashed a slap shot from the right faceoff dot that beat Dubnyk high to the glove side.
The second, at 16:38, followed a scramble in front of the net. Sharks defenseman Brent Burns tried to clear the puck but it hit teammate Logan Couture and bounced straight to Tuch near the far post, and he put a backhander into the open side of the net.
Smith tallied at 11:03 of the third on a wrister from the left faceoff dot to complete the scoring.
Dubnyk stopped 28 of 32 shots for the Sharks, who dropped to 1-4-1 on their seven-game homestand.
--Field Level Media
