By Bob Smizik, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana/ Post-Gazette
Penguins Marc-Andre Fleury makes save against the Flyers at the Mellon Arena, Sunday.
This NHL postseason has been a major stage, a coming out party so to speak, for Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, who is staking his claim to being one of the best players in the world. Right beside Malkin on the large platform that is the Stanley Cup playoffs are Sidney Crosby, who scored a goal last night in a 4-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers, and Marian Hossa, who also scored and clearly is living up to his billing of being an exceptional two-way player.
No one would put Max Talbot, who scored the winner at Mellon Arena, in that category. Talbot's a grinder, not a star.
But one Penguin who does belong on that high level is goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, whose role in this victory that gave the Penguins a two games to none lead in the Eastern Conference final, is equal to or greater than his more famous teammates.
Fleury was outstanding, as he has been throughout the postseason. Neither Flyers goal, one a power play and another on a breakaway, could be attributed to poor play on his part.
Although the Penguins are being recognized for their superior offensive skills, they also happen to be pretty good when the other team has the puck.
A lot of that -- but not all of it -- has to do with Fleury, the 23-year-old goaltender who is playing for his name and his fortune.
Fleury is every bit a part of the Stanley Cup run as are Malkin, Crosby and Hossa. He's playing like the goaltender the Penguins expected him to be when they traded up to make him the No. 1 selection in the 2003 entry draft.
Fleury has been a different goalie since returning from a high ankle sprain that kept him out of the lineup from early December until late February. Although he was coming on strong before the injury, he seemed more mature and fundamentally better upon his return.
First, he won back the job that he seemed to have lost to Ty Conklin while injured. He did it the only way available: Superb play. Conklin, as well as he had played, never had a chance to keep his job with the way Fleury performed.
Of course, the regular season is one thing, the postseason quite another. Fleury had been just short of a bust in the playoffs, going all the way back to his junior days. In eight postseasons, from Cape Breton to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to the Penguins, he never posted a goals-against average lower than 3.00. Nor had he done anything to distinguish himself in international competition.
So this playoff run was as much a test for Fleury as it was of the Penguins and all their young stars.
A goaltender can't be much better than the players in front of him. The Penguins have played sound defense under coach Michel Therrien and Fleury has benefited from this disciplined style.
So is it Fleury or is it the team concept?
"I will say it is a combination of both," said coach Michel Therrien. "First of all, Marc-Andre, he's really square to the puck. The game slowed down in front of him. That's normal. Well, he's only 23, but he has got a few years of experience and you ask any goalie with time and experience, and the game slows down in front of you so he doesn't have to make those big saves when he's out of position.
"And in the meantime, we've played a much better defensive game as well. You put those two together, and you get the result that defensively you are better."
There's no question Therrien's coaching style has helped Fleury, just as it would help any goalie.
"I think all of us have been told since day one, since coach Therrien came, that we have to be responsible out there, and, really, it is about being accountable," said Crosby. "You can't afford to not have good work ethic in our own end, or you are going to be burned for it. I think it's something that we realize is just being a good teammate."
Even Philadelphia coach John Stevens acknowledged the Penguins' defensive prowess. "They have a lot of confidence in their third and fourth lines, which allows them to put Crosby and Malkin out there when they want to get them out there," he said.
"They have a lot of confidence in [third-line center Jordan] Staal. They have a lot of confidence in their fourth line. They don't have any problem putting them out there against really any of our lines. They are a very defensively responsible team."
Fleury, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, will attract plenty of attention from teams wanting a franchise goaltender.
For now, though, Fleury will concentrate on the remainder of this round and, in all likelihood, a run at the Cup. It's the greatest test in hockey and one Fleury looks more and more able to handle.
Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.
First published on May 12, 2008 at 12:00 am
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