Marc-Andre Fleury had reasons to not want Pittsburgh start, per reports
The Penguins scored four goals on 30 shots sent toward Filip Gustavsson last night.
Some Penguins fans were disappointed not to see Marc-Andre Fleury in goal during Monday night’s 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in what had the potential to be his last regular-season game in Pittsburgh.
When asked if he was disappointed too, Fleury answered before the game, “A little bit.”
“But that’s okay,” said Fleury, who will now start tomorrow when the Wild play the Boston Bruins. “I get to play tomorrow. The team’s been good. The team has been winning lately. [Starting goaltender Filip Gustavsson] has been awesome. So, just have to keep it rolling.”
According to some reports, Fleury might have been more than fine with Wild head coach John Hynes’ decision.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo said that Fleury doesn’t love playing in Pittsburgh as a visitor and was fine not starting at PPG Paints.
And Fleury himself says he’s not necessarily retiring after this season, he doesn’t love playing there as a visitor and his emotional return “night” to Pittsburgh will come when his HOF career is over https://t.co/jiJnMOjexx
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 18, 2023
Yes. He said this isn’t like going back to MTL for him.
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) December 18, 2023
The Athletic’s Rob Rossi had more to add.
Rossi wrote that Fleury’s first start of the season in Montreal, where Habs fans honored the Quebec native with a standing ovation after he was named first star of the game following the Wild’s 5-2 win on October 17, “was a bit too heavy” for the goaltender.
From Fleury in a text message “a few weeks ago,” according to Rossi:
“Honestly? In my head I will try to enjoy it and make a good mental memory it case it is (his last game in Pittsburgh).”
“But I definitely don’t want the attention and questions that could come with it. It was crazy in Montreal, and I’m not looking to do that again.”
This very well might not be the last time Fleury plays in Pittsburgh.
Despite press speculating that this season could serve as a farewell tour for Fleury, who is in the final season of the two-year contract he signed with the Wild in 2022, the 39-year-old netminder hasn’t confirmed yet that he plans to retire this summer.
He declined to answer questions in Montreal about this being his last season, and again stopped short of giving a definitive answer in Pittsburgh.
Marc-Andre Fleury acknowledged he's thought about the possibility of this being his last visit to Pittsburgh, "but trying not to make a big deal about it. Just enjoy the day, enjoy the people around the rink, and yeah. We’ll see."
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) December 18, 2023
Fleury’s career record against the Penguins currently stands at 4-4, with a 3.19 goals against average and .900 save percentage, in eight career games.