Pens' Fleury rolling in goal

By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, February 14, 2007


Although the Penguins haven't lost in regulation in over a month, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is eager to re-establish himself.

"The last game wasn't as good for me," Fleury said on Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to playing again and changing that up."

He apparently won't have long to wait.

Although Fleury said following yesterday morning's practice at Southpointe that he didn't know whether he would be starting or sitting tonight at Mellon Arena, backup Jocelyn Thibault said he wasn't playing.

So, barring a change of heart on the part of head coach Michel Therrien, it'll be Fleury in goal against Chicago.

The start will be Fleury's 47th of the season and his eighth in a row.

He's been the goaltender of record in all but one game of the Pens' current 11-0-2 burst up the ladder in the Eastern Conference standings.

The most recent of those was a 6-5 overtime triumph Saturday night in Toronto, in which Fleury stopped 23 of 28 shots.

"It was a pretty offensive game," Fleury said. "Maybe it's good hockey to watch, a good show for the fans, but, for me, it's tough to give up five goals. That's something I hate.

"Next game, hopefully, it can be lower than that. There were some goals I'd like to see again, that I know I can stop."

Thibault, who's started nine of the Penguins' 55 games, hasn't recorded a decision since beating the Coyotes, 7-2, on Jan. 27 in Phoenix.

The Penguins haven't been beaten in regulation since Thibault was in net for a 5-2 setback on Jan. 10 at Florida.

Therrien, who didn't speak to the media yesterday, is apparently keen on maintaining the status quo.

He skated winger Ryan Malone with Sidney Crosby and Mark Recchi yesterday after demoting Malone to the third line during the Toronto game.

And defenseman Brooks Orpik said he's anticipating being back in the lineup tonight after missing the game against the Maple Leafs (illness). Orpik had been replaced in Toronto by Josef Melichar, who played for the first time since suffering a knee injury on Jan. 10 in Florida.

With back-to-back games looming Sunday afternoon against the Capitals and Monday at the Islanders, Thibault figures to get a chance to play again soon.

The Penguins will face four more back-to-back situations while playing 17 games in March.

In the meantime, Therrien is riding Fleury like Eddie Arcaro on Whirlaway.

"It's not bad," said Fleury, who opened the season by starting a career-high 11 consecutive games. "I could play many games. As long as I rest when I can and have good practices, I'm ready for the games.

"We had some tough times the last couple of years. It's fun to enjoy the time that we're having right now, all the wins and all these points we're getting."

Night after night after night.

Mike Prisuta can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com.