Marc-Andre Fleury. His name is analogous with what he does–that is to say, a flurry of movement in front of the net. He is dazzling with athleticism, flexibility, and agility. In his 17th year in the NHL, the 36-year-old goaltender resembles a much younger player. However, Fleury is now at the top of his game. Yesterday, he was named the recipient of the Save of the Year in the 2021 NHL Fan Choice Awards. On Monday, Fleury earned his 90th NHL Playoffs victory; if the Golden Knights win this series, he will own the #3 spot in all-time NHL Playoffs wins by goalies, therefore eclipsing the current resident, Grant Fuhr. To top it all off, Fleury is one of three nominees for this season’s Vezina Trophy–the NHL’s award for the best goalie–for the first time in his career.
Marc-Andre Fleury This Season
Marc-Andre Fleury is playing some of the best hockey of his career. His regular-season statistics are fantastic. Fleury’s save percentage was the best of his career, second only to four seasons ago in his first season with the Golden Knights, the first NHL expansion team in 50 years to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season. Moreover, he has remained consistent for the playoffs.
Marc-Andre Fleury’s 2020-2021 Statistics
| Regular Season | Postseason | |
| Record | 26-10 | 9-4 |
| SA (shots against) | 989 | 328 |
| GA (goals against) | 71 | 24 |
| GAA (goals against average) | 1.98 | 1.84 |
| SV% (save percentage) | .928 | .927 |
| SO (shutouts) | 6 | 1 |
The NHL Playoffs semifinals began Monday night, with the Montreal Canadiens, the childhood favorite team of Marc-Andre Fleury, visiting T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to take on the Knights. Vegas dominated the game, winning 4-1 in the opener of the best-of-seven series. Fleury was impressive with 28 saves. The puck will drop for Game 2 at 8:00 PM CDT, on Wednesday, June 16.
A Phoenix Rising
In November 2019, Marc-Andre Fleury suffered the devastating loss of his father, Andre Fleury, to lung cancer. During the rest of the season, he struggled in his game-play. By the time the NHL came back for the pandemic-rescheduled playoffs last August, Fleury had lost his starting position to Robin Lehner, whom Vegas picked up from the Blackhawks just before the NHL regular season was temporarily shut down.
When this season opened in January, Lehner and Fleury were working in tandem as starters, with neither officially picked as such. However, Fleury has been reminiscent of his most successful seasons. He now carries his father with him, emblazoned in French in a message on the back of his goalie mask. It is something his father has told him before he stepped on the ice since he was a little kid.
(h/t Twitter/jessegranger_)
Translated, it reads, “Keep your eye on it. You practice as you play. Have fun.” — Pa
Marc-Andre Fleury is certainly taking his father’s advice.
Wrap up — Golden Knights/Avalanche Game 6
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