PITTSBURGH — Marc-André Fleury has said he doesn’t want his 21st season to be a farewell tour around the NHL. He doesn’t want any special treatment.
Sorry, “Flower” — in Pittsburgh, you are very, very special.
So in the place where his Hall of Fame career began as a teenager, Fleury had no choice Tuesday night but to accept the shower of love he received before, during and after his final game in Steel City from the organization that drafted him first overall in 2003 and the fanbase who absolutely adores him.
In front of his wife, three children and proud mother, playing against close friends like Penguins greats Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, and alongside 18 Wild skaters who feel beyond privileged that he’s their Minnesota Wild teammate, Fleury pulled out all his greatest hits during a 5-3 come-from-behind victory.
In the second period while preserving a one-goal lead, during an all-out Penguins assault, Fleury thrust forward on one save, used his glove like an oven mitt on another and then did a snow angel to freeze a puck after a mad flurry ended with Lars Eller clanking a shot right off the iron from point-blank range.
After gathering himself, Fleury naturally did his trademark “little kiss to the post for old times’ sake.”
Fleury’s final…
