2024-01-16 02:46:09
Marc-André Fleury added a new page to the great book of his career by signing the 552nd victory of his career, Monday evening, during a 5-0 victory for the Minnesota Wild over the New York Islanders.
With this victory, Fleury overtook his idol Patrick Roy for 2nd place among the winningest goalies in NHL history.
Under the chants of the crowd chanting his name, Fleury was warmly greeted by his teammates at the end of the match.
“I’m happy to have made it,” said Fleury with the broad smile that we know so well. “We can stop talking regarding it. It was time for me to win that one. I’m honored to be in Minnesota, in front of these fans. They were incredible tonight. »
For the occasion, Fleury made 21 saves to sign the 74th shutout victory of his career, which places him two shutouts behind Tony Esposito and Ed Belfour who share 10th place in history in this regard.
“I didn’t want to bring bad luck, so I didn’t think too much regarding the shutout. It’s not easy recently, but we fought hard to get the victory,” added Fleury.
Flower Power x 3 ????????????#mnwild pic.twitter.com/ZJ6fcb3VBn
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild)
January 16, 2024
From the start, Fleury showed great intensity. After stopping his first shot of the match, the goalkeeper tried to attack Anders Lee when the latter came into contact with him following the whistle. Fleury tried to join the fray, but it was his teammates who took care to remind Lee not to get too close to the 39-year-old veteran.
Fleury also had the help of his most faithful accomplices, his posts. Twice Fleury was thwarted by shots from Bo Horvat and Cal Clutterbuck, and on each occasion he took the time to thank his crossbar with a little caress.
“This is a special moment for me and my family. It’s an honor to do it here and with my teammates in the room,” added the hero of the evening.
The Wild will host a special evening in Fleury’s honor to mark his 552 wins and 1,000 games when his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, visit on February 7.
Fleury became the fourth goalkeeper in history to reach the milestone of 1,000 games played, following Brodeur (1,266), Roberto Luongo (1,044) and Roy (1,029), on December 31.
Fleury has a record of 552-324-92, a goals- once morest average of 2.59 and an efficiency coefficient of .912 in 1,007 regular season games.
The first overall pick in the 2003 draft won the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017) in a Pittsburgh Penguins uniform and once the Vezina Trophy in 2021.
Joel Eriksson Ek scored two special teams goals to help the Wild end a four-game losing streak. Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist. Connor Dewar and Marcus Foligno were the other scorers.
Ilya Sorokin blocked 29 shots in 40 minutes of play for the Islanders. He was starting an 11th consecutive game, a personal mark since his NHL debut.
With a three-goal deficit and a second game in as many days, Tuesday once morest the Jets in Winnipeg, the Islanders sent Kenneth Appleby into the fray in the third period.
In his first appearance in an NHL game in almost six years, Appleby surrendered twice on eight shots.
An incredible feat ???? a legend of the game
Congratulations Le Fleur ????#mnwild pic.twitter.com/YxPyuCp361
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild)
January 16, 2024
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