Fleury inches closer to history as Wild beat Bruins 3-2
Marc-Andre Fleury stops 19 in the 3-2 win over the Bruins to move within one win of Patrick Roy for second all-time.
ST. PAUL - At age 39, Marc-Andre Fleury is still making incredible saves and keeping his team in games. Tonight was more of the same as Fluery stopped 19 of the 21 shots he faced in the 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
It was Fleury's 550th career win in his 998th career game played. He now moves within one win of tying Patrick Roy for second all-time and two from passing him.
“It’s huge. I think to play in the NHL is an absolute privilege and it’s a feat in itself. But to play obviously 1,000 games and then to add on being a goaltender, that’s as impressive of a resume as probably I’ve seen," Zach Bogosian said on Fleury.
The feat is incredible in itself like Bogosian said but it's also special knowing what a type of person Fleury is and the type of teammate he is. Everyone in the Wild's locker room enjoys playing with Fleury which makes this more special for Fleury and the team as he inches closer to history.
"I’ve played with a couple of guys that have played 1,000 games but for a goaltender to play 1,000 games is pretty impressive. The way he’s done it with class, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him over the last month and a half being here. He’s a classy guy. He’s fun. You can tell that he loves the game. On top of all it, I think what’s most impressive about it is he loves coming to the rink and being a teammate, which after I don’t know how many years he’s played, when you’re on the back nine of your career, those are the things that you really appreciate and I just think when he comes to the rink with the same attitude every day, with that excitement, it’s really easy to cheer for a guy like that.”
Fleury is a future hall of fame, there is no doubt about that. But you can tell he wants to play and help his team win games but right now Filip Gustavsson has arguably been the NHL's best goalie in the last ten or so games which has moved Fleury into a backup role.
Yet the veteran continues to have fun, pull pranks on his teammates, stay sharp, and be ready to play when he gets the chance too.
"I think bottom line, I just want my team to win. Gus has been playing great for, I don’t know, the past month and a half. We’ve been winning, right, so that’s good," Fleury said. "I just try to work hard in practice, work hard with Freddy (Chabot) our goalie coach, and at some point I’m gonna play so I wanna be ready for those games. To beat Boston back-to-back is a nice feeling."
He's handled the switch into a backup as a pro. As a true NHL veteran who has almost played 1,000 games. And for a goaltender to do that is even more incredible. Only Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo, and Roy have played 1,000 games. Fleury has played 998 games and isn't too far off.
“That’s just who he is. I think that’s why he’s so successful, he’s got the resume he does. If he had a bad attitude or something like that, I think it wouldn’t be the same," Wild assistant captain Marcus Foligno said on Fleury. "He brings so much joy to the locker room, so much energy and positivity, and obviously great goaltending. It’s unbelievable. We’re lucky to have him. Him and Gus, the way they’ve been playing, it’s been the reason we’re winning."
Tonight, Fleury was on top of his game. He stopped Morgan Geekie on an early breakaway only over a minute into the game and later settled in.
After Kirill Kaprizov took a holding penalty, the Bruins went to the power play and picked up the game's first goal after David Pastrnak ripped home his 20th of the year on the power play.
Early in the second period, the Wild got a power play chance of their own and cashed in when Joel Eriksson Ek tipped a point shot from Matt Boldy. Ek's tip settled in the slot before Brandon Carlo knocked the puck into the net after he attempted to clear it.
Just under two minutes later, Kaprizov picked up his 12th goal of the year and his fourth goal in his last three games.
The Wild completely turned the game around in the second period after a slow start and they didn't look back. They carried a 2-1 lead into the third period after outshooting the Bruins 19-6 in the second period.
Boston almost opened the third period with a game-tying goal from Brad Marchand but it was Zach Bogosian who broke up the potential goal with a stick save.
"Yeah, Bogosian has been very good tonight. Obviously he was a difference-maker for us. But I think he's been every time he's been in the lineup," Wild head coach John Hynes said on Bogosian. "Great skater. Big, strong guy. He's playing a confident game."
Bogosian and Fleury exchanged some love taps after the play and the Wild eventually drew a penalty 30 seconds later after Charlie Coyle went to the box for high-sticking Eriksson Ek.
As time expired on the penalty, Pat Maroon passed one to Foligno in front of the net and connected for Foligno's fourth goal of the year giving the Wild a 3-1 lead.
Geekie was able to find the back of the net with seven minutes remaining in the third period but the Wild were able to hold off the Bruins for their sixth win in their last seven games as they improved to 10-3-0 under Hynes.
Fleury also inched closer to history with his 550th career win and his 998th career game played. It also seems like the team is just playing better knowing they could be a part of history if Fleury reaches these milestones. If anything, it's helped this team rattle off huge and much-needed wins, like the two against the Bruins in the last week alone.
"The one thing with Flower is his personality is unique and genuine. I think he's one of the greatest teammates that you have just whether he's the starting goalie or at this point in his career where sometimes he's not playing as much as he used to," Hynes said.
"Great practice player, brings energy to the room. He cares about everybody. He's great with coaches. So I think his personality allows people to want to do right by him and play hard for him. And I think seeing him now at this point, he's hungry, he's extremely competitive, he's playing great for us. But I also think the guys want to help him reach some of the milestones that are very, very difficult to reach in this league and it's nice to see both he and the team jell together in those situations."