Monday's ice was on fire for Marc-Andre Fleury, as the veteran goalie skated into the history books, surpassing the legendary Patrick Roy with his 552nd career win in the NHL. Fleury's impressive shutout, his 74th, helped the Minnesota Wild dismantle the New York Islanders with a decisive 5-0 victory, as reported by CBS News Minnesota. The Wild, seemingly reinvigorated, had much to celebrate, snapping a dismal 1-7-1 streak that had haunted them in their previous nine games.
The team rallied around their goaltender, fans chanting Fleury's name during a particularly gritty save in the second period: "Finally, right? It's been a little rough, lately. I wish we could have done this a little while ago, right?" Fleury shared in a statement obtained by CBS News Minnesota. With Martin Brodeur still holding the top spot with 691 wins, Fleury's landmark achievement places him comfortably in second, adding a bright spot to what has been an inconsistent season for the Wild.
In a display of skill and teamwork, Joel Eriksson Ek netted goals on both powerplay and shorthanded situations, while Mats Zuccarello and Marcus Foligno also found the back of the net. Zuccarello, breaking through a 20-game dry spell, scored early in the match, a much-needed boost for the home team, as per AP News.
The Islanders, facing their own set of challenges, were unable to penetrate Fleury's defenses. Islanders' coach Lane Lambert didn't mince words about their performance, "I just didn't like our effort at all. I didn't think we were 100% committed to playing the game the right way from the start, and it just kind of snowballed," he lamented in a statement obtained by CBS News Minnesota. The team took a hit as starter Ilya Sorokin, who's faced over a thousand shots this season, was pulled after two periods giving way to Kenneth Appleby, who hadn't seen NHL action in nearly six years.
With the Wild maintaining a 14-2-4 run when scoring first, and the Islanders left to regroup after dropping their fourth game in the last five outings, the matchup marked a shift for both teams. The Wild, aiming to keep playoff hopes alive, notably saw General Manager Bill Guerin assert before the game, that it was not time to throw in the towel, according to information from CBS News Minnesota.
The journey continues for both the victorious Wild who head to Tampa Bay, and the Islanders, who look to rebound in Winnipeg as each team seeks to forge their path through the remainder of the season.
