The Golden Knights have placed netminder Marc-Andre Fleury on the IR-list. But that could’ve been avoided, according to The Athletics Scott Wheeler.
It’s in hockey player’s DNA to do everything in their power to continue playing after being injured or shaken up (within reason). So, it makes sense that Vegas Golden Knights’ netminder Marc-Andre Fleury finished the game after being accidentally knocked in the head by Anthony Mantha’s knee.
The Detroit Red Wings forward was cutting across the front of the net when he connected with Fleury. It wasn’t malicious but Fleury was clearly shaken up.
Placed on IR
After the medial group took the ice, Fleury was deemed fit to play and continued on inside the blue-paint. It’s a warrior like mentality, but Scott Wheeler believes Fleury should have been taken out of the game.
Whew, Marc-Andre Fleury’s injury is tough to watch: pic.twitter.com/HmxDV0T2q1
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) October 16, 2017
On Twitter, Wheeler states the injury was tough to watch. He goes on to add that Fleury was not right In after the trainer returns to the bench.
The Vegas Golden Knights ended up placing Fleury on injured reserve. Fleury did not practice Saturday. The game took place Friday evening, and in his post-game press conference, Vegas coach Gerard Gallant said there was never a discussion about removing Fleury from the game.
“The trainer, he takes care of the goaltender,” Gallant said according to the Washington Post. “Nobody come to me and said he’s hurt, he’s not ready to play, so he was fine.”
What do you think? With Fleury placed on IR a few days after the incident, should the netminder have been pulled? Or did the team (and Fleury) learn new information after the game?
You can tell he’s still not right after the trainer returns to the bench too: pic.twitter.com/zU0jsysB1B
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) October 16, 2017