LAS VEGAS — Marc-Andre Fleury has always had a flair for the dramatic during his Hall of Fame career, and his surprise relief appearance in goal for the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday was no different.
Fleury, 40, found out early in the second intermission that starter Filip Gustavsson was too ill to finish the game. So, Fleury had some time to move around a bit, to catch a few balls off the wall. Fleury, set to retire after this season, hadn’t played in two weeks since what everyone thought was his swan song in overtime of the Wild’s regular-season finale.
Fleury stopped six of seven shots in the third period and overtime, but the Wild lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 to fall behind 3-2 in the first-round playoff series.
Fleury also got one last game at T-Mobile Arena, where he played for the Golden Knights from 2017-21, and the crowd serenaded him with a “Fleury!” chant. It also allowed Fleury to appear in the playoffs for an 18th season, moving him past Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most years all-time among NHL goalies.
“I was excited to have a chance to play in this building, too,” he said. “Got a chant going, too. Got a few butterflies. That was pretty sweet, too.”
The Wild seemed motivated to do everything they could to help Fleury, as they didn’t give up a shot on goal for the first 13 minutes, 43 seconds, of the third period. Brock Faber, and many others, laid their bodies in front of shots and got their sticks in passing lanes. But it was impressive how Fleury came in and gave them a chance.
“I mean, that’s what he does, right?” Faber said. “To come into a playoff series cold like that, the moment is never too big for him. He gave us a chance to win this thing.”
Fleury could tell Gustavsson wasn’t feeling great in warmups, but credited his teammate for battling. Gustavsson was terrific, stopping 23 of 25 shots to give the Wild a chance. Fleury said the third period was “one of our best periods,” pointing out how his teammates were laying it on the line to block shots.
“The boys were great,” he said.
But the Golden Knights beat Fleury in the end, with Brett Howden scoring the winning goal four minutes into overtime. Howden was left alone in the slot and one-timed a pass.
“It was quick,” Fleury said. “I saw him when I was on my post. I started to push out, make myself look big. But it came quick.”
Whether or not this was the final game of Fleury’s career, it’ll certainly be among the more memorable.
Fleury said with a smile, “It would have been perfect with a win.”
(Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie / Imagn Images)