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Marc-Andre Fleury made what is assumed to be his final start in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night time.
And – though he donned the Minnesota Wild’s signature forest inexperienced – it is secure to say that it’s the final begin in an extended line of many who introduced recollections and championships to Pittsburgh.
Listed here are Fleury’s top-five moments – each on-ice and off-ice – from his time as a Pittsburgh Penguin.
5. Fleury’s NHL debut
I’ll always remember Mike Lange’s name when Fleury stopped Esa Pirnes on that penalty shot in his debut sport. We had nothing to cheer about for a very long time, abruptly we had one thing.
“He’s discovered a house… within the metropolis of Pittsburgh… Marc-Andre Fleury.”
That has by no means modified.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) October 29, 2024
Fleury’s debut was one to recollect, even though the Penguins finally misplaced the sport, 3-0, to the Los Angeles Kings.
He gave up a objective on the primary shot he confronted, however he ended up making 46 saves from there on out, together with a save on a penalty shot by Esa Pirnes.
Fleury was the primary of the superstars from the Crosby period to interrupt into the league, which makes the event itself momentous.
4. “Prank you very a lot!”
Maybe one of the crucial endearing issues about Fleury is his infectuous smile and skill to mild up a room. And he positive knew make followers adn teammates giggle over time by means of his trademark pranks.
Former teammates Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang named a few of their favorites, together with the packing peanuts of their power coach’s automobile and Bryan Rust’s garments being hung within the rafters.
However Fleury’s favourite – and, maybe, his biggest – was one he pulled on then-rookies Ben Lovejoy and Mark Letestu, when he took out the entire furnishings from their resort room and put it within the hallway by the elevator.
3. Breakaway save on Alex Ovechkin
Fleury really had just a few large playoff saves on Alexander Ovechkin. One in all them was through the Penguins’ 2017 Stanley Cup run, when he made a save with the shaft of his stick through the second interval of Recreation 7.
However, maybe his largest one got here through the 2009 Cup run. Once more, throughout Recreation 7, Fleury made an excellent glove save on an Ovechkin breakaway within the early phases of the sport, which set the tone for the remainder of the competition and allowed the Penguins to take management early on.
2. Passing of the torch
As bittersweet as this second was, it is onerous to exclude it from an all-time Fleury listing due to the form of particular person – and teammate – he has all the time been.
For the second consecutive season, the younger, 20-year-old Matt Murray had helped lead the Penguins to a Cup championship. With the Vegas growth draft looming, everybody – Fleury included – knew what was in all probability about to occur.
In a “passing of the torch” second, Fleury handed the Stanley Cup to Murray through the celebration and mentioned one thing to him within the course of. Fleury was Vegas’s first draft choose 10 days later.
1. The Save
There isn’t a different Fleury second that may prime this one. This was, merely put, arguably the most important save in franchise historical past.
By now, everybody is aware of how this one goes. Within the waning seconds throughout Recreation 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Remaining towards Detroit, Fleury made a sprawling save on Nikolas Lidstrom to protect the Penguins’ 2-1 lead and provides the franchise its third Cup.
This may endlessly be often called one of many biggest moments in group historical past, and Fleury made it occur.
