ST. PAUL, Minn. — Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves and Kirill Kaprizov scored the tiebreaking aim halfway via the third interval because the Minnesota Wild beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday evening.
Fleury, who earned his 553rd profession win, was honored in a pregame ceremony almost a month after passing Patrick Roy (551) for second place in NHL historical past. He trails solely Martin Brodeur, who has 691 wins.
“It was a giant distinction within the recreation,” Wild coach John Hynes stated of Fleury. “Then the way in which the gamers play in entrance of him. It is enjoyable to be concerned in that and see how a lot he battles and the way a lot he means to the workforce.”
With the workforce that drafted Fleury first total in 2003 and with which he received three Stanley Cups wanting on, together with former teammates nonetheless in Pittsburgh, the Wild honored Fleury with a video tribute. The goalie was given a silver engraved stick noting his topping 1,000 video games performed, a $5,000 donation to a charity of Fleury’s selection and a memento masks with every of the 4 groups he performed on.
“I am blissful it is over,” Fleury stated. “I used to be a bit of nervous for it. I really feel like I’ve gotten softer and softer with the years after which seeing my children on the ice and on the jumbotron speaking, too, outdated teammates. I do not know, it will get me.”
A timeless inspiration on and off the ice ♾ 🌸#mnwild pic.twitter.com/tAFpIAv94F
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) February 10, 2024
Reilly Smith and Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins, and Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves.
“He made some large saves,” Crosby stated of Fleury. “I assumed they did an ideal job recognizing what he is completed. It was nice to be part of that, however you continue to need to have the bragging rights on the finish of the evening.”
With all eyes on Fleury and the followers offering a number of “Fleury” chants, he held robust again in internet for the primary time in 5 video games after being sidelined by an upper-body damage.
Matt Boldy and Jonas Brodin additionally scored for Minnesota, which has received 5 of seven.
Smith, in his second recreation again after lacking time with an upper-body damage, scored his ninth of the season at 2:54 of the second to tie it. It was Smith’s first aim since Dec. 18, a span of 11 video games.
Crosby, who earlier within the day gifted a portray to Fleury, scored 1:01 into the third, deflecting a degree shot from Erik Karlsson into an open internet on the aspect of Fleury to tie it once more.
“That is what issues at all times, the win, however I had him a pair instances within the second,” Fleury stated. “I used to be blissful about that. After which he scored, had a superb celebration too. Geez.”
Info from The Related Press was used on this story.
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