In a definitive Monday night blowout at the Xcel Energy Center, Marc-Andre Fleury gracefully slid past another legend in the NHL's record books. A clean sheet against the New York Islanders catapulted the Minnesota Wild netminder into a solid second place for all-time wins in the league, breaking a tie with hockey heavyweight Patrick Roy. Fleury, who has been guarding the crease like a boss for nearly two decades, now boasts a striking 552 wins, as per CBS News Minnesota.
With the grace of someone half of his 39 years, Fleury's 21-shot shutout also marked his 74th career blank-slate game. Unfortunately for the Islanders, they were the latest chapter in Fleury's storybook season, becoming his first shutout victims of the year, reported by Reuters.
As he and his teammates celebrated the 5-0 victory, Fleury didn't just bask in the accolade but tipped his mask to his childhood hero. "Catching Patrick is an honor, a guy I look up to growing up. In the moment, I was happy to get the win here for the boys," he said. Fleury's next target? The seemingly insurmountable 691 wins by the one and only Martin Brodeur, according to CBS News Minnesota.
But let's not forget where Fleury carved out the heart of his legacy: Pittsburgh. Before charming the State of Hockey, Fleury was firmly entrenched as a Pittsburgh Penguin, having been snagged first in the 2003 NHL Draft. Over thirteen solid seasons, marked by tremendous saves, booming crowds, and three Stanley Cups, Fleury left his mark on the Penguins' franchise—and in the hearts of its fans. In a statement that had hearts aching in 2017, Fleury expressed his deep ties to the Steel City: "This is like my home. It'll be tough, but I know what's coming. ... And I'm glad people will remember me as a good person, not just a goalie," he reminisced, as stated in CBS News Minnesota.
