Winter's Fleury could spring eternal

By Chris Bradford
Beaver County Times
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/
March 9, 2011

PITTSBURGH - It started rather organically. No electronic prompting was required from the new bazillion dollar scoreboard at the Consol Energy Center. Slowly, but surely though, the din of the crowd built to a crescendo: "Fleury! Fleury! Fleury!"

The night was Nov. 12, moments before the Penguins were to host Tampa Bay. But perhaps the only thing odder than the faithful chanting a player's name before a game was the fact that the name being hailed was that of Marc-Andre Fleury.

If you recall, the only thing the Penguins' goaltender heard through the first 16 games of this season were jeers - much of it the residual from the last season's inexplicable second-round collapse against Montreal - and calls for his job.

Fleury had won just one of his first eight starts. Worse, he was publicly reprimanded by coach Dan Bylsma, who benched his franchise goalie for a stretch in favor of journeyman backup Brent Johnson.

However, Fleury responded that night with a modest 15-save performance in a 5-1win over the Lightning for the 150th victory of his career. In a season with few feel-good stories for the Penguins, that moment ranks supreme.

"(I just) worked hard and tried my best," said Fleury. "At some point, it had to come back."

It did.

The seventh-year pro has since gone on to post a spectacular 28-10-5 record over his last 43 starts. On Monday night, Fleury made 29 saves in the Penguins' 3-1 win over Buffalo. It was the fourth time Fleury has posted a 30-win season as the game ended he was greeted with the now familiar chant.

Fleury has not only been the Penguins' most valuable player since Sidney Crosby went out two months ago with a concussion, he's garnered Vezina and even Hart Trophy consideration.

Most importantly, though, Fleury has kept the Penguins afloat when most thought injuries would sink them. With nearly 40-percent of the Penguins' goal production out with injuries, Fleury has had little room for error. Nine of Pittsburgh's last 10 games have been decided by one goal, seven of those games went beyond regulation. And yet, somehow, someway, the Penguins still sit just two points out of the top spot in the Eastern Conference entering Monday's game. For that, the Penguins have Fleury to thank.

If that doesn't make the 26-year-old - already the proud owner of one Stanley Cup ring - a Vezina finalist, perhaps, nothing will.

Indeed, Pittsburgh may have saved Fleury back in November. In turn he has saved the Penguins.

Photo Credit: AP