LAS VEGAS -- Minnesota backup goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury returned the ice at T-Mobile Arena to oppose the Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights], as Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] starting goalie Filip Gustavsson didn't return to the game due to illness, per the team. Fleury stopped six of the seven shots he faced, including all three in regulation, but allowed the game winner to Brett Howden at the 4:05 mark of overtime. Vegas' 3-2 win gave it a 3-2 series lead, with Game 6 scheduled for Thursday in Saint Paul, Minnesota. "It would have been perfect with a win," Fleury said. "As a goalie, you always feel like you can stop it, and should stop it. I haven't seen the replay yet. It happened pretty quick. I saw (Howden) in the corner of my eye and knew he was down there and he just put it in the corner." Gustavsson stopped 23 of the 25 shots he faced in the first two periods and wasn't on the bench for the third period. Fleury entered the game with the Wild trailing 2-1, and became the goalie of record when Matt Boldy scored his fifth goal of the postseason to tie the game at 2-all. Fleury said he knew Gustavsson wasn't feeling well before the game and coming off the bench was a possibility. "He battled through those first periods, and I talked when he come off and he said that was it," Fleury said. Winger Ryan Hartman scored what appeared to be the go-ahead goal with 1:15 left, but a coach's challenge overturned the goal when it was determined Wild center Gustav Nyquist was offside. "Inches, right?" Fleury said It happens. It happens to anybody, and that's just a bad break. Obviously, there was still a minute left, and they have a good team, so nothing was over, but it was a good feeling to have had that goal. "It was definitely tough to have it taken away, but nobody panicked, I thought. We kept playing." Fleury, who played four seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, is in the final season of his 21-year career. It marked the first time he faced Vegas in the postseason. Since leaving Vegas, Fleury is 1-4-0 against his former team with a 4.33 goals-against average and .877 save percentage. The 40-year-old, three-time Stanley Cup champion was making his 170th career playoff appearance. "I think coming in in overtime (I) felt better, too, after playing 20 minutes," Fleury said. "I was excited to have a chance to play again. And in this building, too. In front of the crowd and getting a little chant going too, it gives you a few butterflies. That was pretty sweet, too." Fleury's appearance between the pipes sent a portion of the 18,441 in attendance into a "FLEU-RY! FLEU-RY" chant, something he added that he didn't expect. "No, definitely not," he said. "In the playoffs and opposing team, rink, obviously. I guess it'll always be a special place for me." Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwiNvfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to never miss a story.
