Three-time Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to play his final NHL game in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The Minnesota Wild (5-1-2) will visit the PPG Paints Arena for a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team with which Fleury hoisted the Cup three times during his career.
The news has unleashed a flurry of emotions among fans, many of whom took to social media to share their thoughts on Fleury's in Pittsburgh.
Here’s a look at what these fans had to say:
“End of an era,” a fan said.
“Y’all need to have flowers thrown on the ice post game,” another fan said.
“They need to retire his jersey after he retires,” one fan said.
Other fans took advantage of the opportunity to express their admiration for the veteran netminder. Here’s what some fans expressed about Marc-Andre Fleury on this unique occasion:
“An incredibly classy guy...” a fan said.
“He better be the starter,” another fan said.
“Let me guess…. The cheapest seats will be $10k?” one fan said.
Marc-Andre Fleury was the first-overall pick in the 2003 draft. Following his selection by Pittsburgh, Fleury had a couple of rough seasons before truly coming into his own in 2006-07, winning 40 games and posting a 2.83 GAA and a .906 SV%.
Fleury’s success with the Pittsburgh Penguins would culminate with a Cup in 2008-09 and then back-to-back championships in 2015-16 and 2016-17. In total, Fleury played 13 seasons and 691 games with the Penguins before departing ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Marc-Andre Fleury to face off against old friends one last time
Fleury’s final game in Pittsburgh means facing his old friends Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The trio were instrumental in winning three Stanley Cups. However, Fleury, Crosby, and Malkin have a profound admiration and respect for one another beyond sharing a piece of hockey history.
Following the Wild’s practice on Monday afternoon, Fleury shared some ice time with members of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Excel Program. Fleury took shots from the young players, reminiscing about his time with the Penguins’ organization.
NHL.com quoted Crosby, stating the following about his longtime friend and teammate:
“Fleury means a lot to me, the organization, and the fans.”
The final homecoming will be a “special night,” as Fleury stated, given the number of friends and family in attendance. Penguins fans will have one last time to see Fleury put the pads on the ice. Most likely, the next time fans get to see Fleury, will be when he becomes a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.