ST. PAUL, Minn. — Marc-Andre Fleury made 32 saves and Kirill Kaprizov scored the tiebreaking purpose halfway by way of the third interval because the Minnesota Wild beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Friday night time.
Fleury, who earned his 553rd profession win, was honored in a pregame ceremony practically 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 an enormous distinction within the recreation,” Wild coach John Hynes mentioned 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.”
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With the workforce that drafted Fleury first total in 2003 and the place he gained three Stanley Cups trying on, together with former teammates nonetheless in Pittsburgh, the Wild honored Fleury with a video tribute and 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 mentioned. “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 youngsters on the ice and on the jumbotron speaking, too; previous 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 huge saves,” Crosby mentioned of Fleury. “I assumed they did an incredible 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 night time.”
With all eyes on Fleury and the followers offering a number of “Fleury” chants, he held robust again in web 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 gained 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 purpose 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 web on the aspect of Fleury to tie it once more.
“That is what issues all the time, the win, however I had him a pair occasions within the second,” Fleury mentioned. “I used to be blissful about that. After which he scored, had an excellent celebration too. Geez.”
Info from The Related Press was used on this story.