Some things just feel right.
Even if it's in a different uniform, Marc-Andre Fleury playing hockey on Pittsburgh ice just feels right.
In a bit of irony, however, Fleury had the opportunity to potentially derail the Penguins' push for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs when he started in goal for the Wild here at PPG Paints Arena Thursday night.
Despite now being in his sixth season away from the Penguins, Fleury led the Wild onto the ice for warmups to quite a cheer from the home crowd. That ... just doesn't happen. Hockey fans love to let their boos rain down as the opposition takes the ice.
Just not when it's Fleury.
"I always get such a warm welcome when I come back here," a reflective and a bit emotional Fleury said following the game. "It’s always a special place for me to come play."
The game didn't transpire as the now 38-year-old netminder had hoped, as he allowed four goals on 31 Penguins shots in a losing effort, but he was hardly at fault on three of those goals.
He, of course, shouldered some of the burden, anyway.
"I wish I would’ve done better, put on a better show, you know?" he said. "Keep it closer, give a chance to our team to stay in it a bit more. I think, as a team, maybe it wasn’t our best, but it is what it is."
JOE SARGENT / GETTY
Marc-Andre Fleury on the ice for warmups Thursday at PPG Paints Arena.
During the first period, the Penguins fired 19 shots on target to just five for the Wild. Fleury was up to the task on all of them except for a Kris Letang wrister from the outside edge of the right circle, one he admitted he should have stopped. Dejan Kovacevic has more on the goal in tonight's Freeze Frame.
Across the second and third period, though, Fleury faced only 12 shots and got beat three more times.
But it wasn't before he came up with his best save of the night, flashing the leather on a Rickard Rakell one-timer:
Rakell did get the last laugh shortly after, as he beat Fleury with a separate one-timer on the power play that was undoubtedly his best, most lethal shot of the season. It was perfectly placed.
Three minutes into the third period, Rakell again caused problems for Fleury by rushing into the zone and waltzing to the net-front -- uncontested -- to impede his vision and positioning on Jason Zucker's one-timer blast off the rush to make it a 3-0 game.
Then, after the Wild had cut the Penguins' lead to two, Brian Dumoulin, Drew O'Connor and Jeff Carter teamed up for one of the prettier goals (I know, right?) you'll see from the Penguins all season. Fleury was left out to dry and had a snowball's chance in H-E double hockey sticks of stopping that one.
And yet, even though he allowed four goals, the Penguins fans in attendance still showed their love and appreciation for the Flower by chanting "FLEU-RY, FLEU-RY, FLEU-RY."
The gesture clearly meant the world to Fleury, who is just as down-to-earth and genuine as you'd imagine.
"So many good memories from being here," Fleury said, nearly getting choked up. "Just in warmups, everybody with signs and my jerseys around the rink. And that cheer at the end too, giving up four goals but still getting a cheer. It is special, every time. Every time I come back, it is. Tough to put into words, but good to be back."
PENGUINS
Nick Bonino catches up with Marc-Andre Fleury prior to Thursday's morning skate at PPG Paints Arena.
Fleury has one more season remaining on his contract, which, presumably, would lead into his retirement. Assuming a clean bill of health, there should be one last opportunity for him to play an NHL game at PPG Paints Arena.
Whether or not that happens, the city of Pittsburgh will always have a special place in its heart for Fleury, as will Fleury for the city, the Penguins organization and a few of his best friends, who he spent a decade of his life playing with.
