Fleury Helps Wild Defeat Penguins in Potential Final Game Against Former Team
Marc-Andre Fleury makes 34 saves in a 3-2 victory; Kirill Kaprizov scores go-ahead goal and assist.
Fleury Shines in Net
Marc-Andre Fleury had an outstanding performance in net for the Minnesota Wild, making 34 saves in their 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He particularly stood out in the third period, making 14 saves to preserve the victory. Wild coach John Hynes praised Fleury's competitiveness and impact on the team, mentioning how much the players feed off his energy and dedication to winning.
This may have been Fleury's final game against the Penguins, the team he played for in his first 13 NHL seasons and won three Stanley Cups with. The 39-year-old goaltender is in the final year of his contract with the Wild and has yet to decide on his future, whether that means retirement or exploring other teams to play for next season.
Kaprizov's Key Contributions
The game-winning goal came from Kirill Kaprizov at 9:34 of the third period. Kaprizov scored on a backdoor rebound off a shot from Zach Bogosian. He also recorded an assist in the game. After the goal, the Penguins challenged for a missed stoppage before the scoring play, but video review confirmed the goal as legitimate.
Matt Boldy and Jonas Brodin also had a goal and an assist each for the Wild. The team displayed a collective effort, with Boldy emphasizing that everyone had an impact on the game and there were no passengers. The victory marked the Wild's second consecutive win.
Game Highlights
The scoring started with a power-play goal from Matt Boldy at 12:57 of the first period. Reilly Smith then tied the game for the Penguins at 1-1 in the second period with a slap shot. Jonas Brodin gave the Wild a 2-1 lead in the second period by scoring off a deflected puck. Sidney Crosby equalized for the Penguins with a power-play goal early in the third period.
The Wild also honored Fleury before the game for reaching the milestone of 1,000 NHL games played. Fleury expressed his gratitude for the ceremony and the support of both the Wild and the Penguins organizations.
