On a night that belonged to Marc-André Fleury, seemingly from the moment he and the Minnesota Wild took the ice for their pre-game warmup, it was inevitable the Canadiens organization would find a way to pay homage to his greatness.
During a third-period stoppage for television commercials Thursday night, the NHL’s classiest organization and its public-address announcer, Michel Lacroix, saluted the 40-year-old native of Sorel-Tracy on the Bell Centre scoreboard as more than 21,000 spectators roared their approval — not for the first time on this evening.
Fleury, the Wild goaltender who was playing for the final time at the home of the Canadiens, skated around the ice, perhaps nervously, from side to side before retreating to his crease. He raised his left glove in appreciation, then made a motion with it, urging the officials and teams to resume the game. But they would have none of it.
The NHL stops for no one, but it did for Fleury for what seemed like an eternity, although the ovation lasted less than three minutes.
“That hit me a little too much. There was still time to be played. They pulled the goalie,” Fleury said after making 19 saves in the Wild’s 4-0 victory — the 76th shutout of a career that began 21 seasons ago. “I had tears in my eyes and knew that’s not good. I think they did it on purpose, I don’t know. The emotions that (you) go through … the goosebumps. I don’t know. It was an honour to be standing there.
“I’ve had a long career with some ups and downs and it wasn’t all smooth,” added Fleury, who previously played for Pittsburgh, Vegas and Chicago, winning three Stanley Cups with the Penguins during that franchise’s glory days. “I always enjoyed battling in the tough moments, trying to come back. I was a little stressed for this game, playing my last one here, in Quebec, in front of family and friends. I’m glad it went well.
“I had some emotions and blurry eyes. I guess I’m getting soft as I’m getting older,” Fleury said through his patented toothy grin. “It was an honour to be part of it.”
The Canadiens certainly handled their role exquisitely, offering little resistance against a team that was playing its second game in 24 hours. Montreal didn’t test Fleury with its first shot until the seventh minute, and directed only eight his way through two periods.
Fleury’s biggest battle, other than keeping his emotions in check, would be to ensure he didn’t lapse into a state of ennui. The acrobatic goalie did make one memorable stop, stacking his pads in the sixth minute of the third period to rob Josh Anderson from in close.
Fleury misplayed a puck behind his net in the third game of the 2021 Cup semifinal against the Canadiens in Montreal, allowing Anderson to score the tying goal into an empty net late in the third period. The Canadiens won the game in overtime and captured the series in six games, advancing to the Cup final, where they lost to Tampa Bay.
“I don’t know what happened,” Fleury said Thursday night. “I forgot the bad times quick. I was just hoping not to let in six. I was a little stressed. There were so many people watching here. I wanted to put on a good show, so they could remember me playing well. I’m happy it went well.”
At the game’s conclusion, Fleury was mobbed by his teammates and coaching staff. Montreal players remained on the ice as well, queued to shake his hand before he retreated to the Wild’s dressing room, only to return to the ice once more, predictably named the game’s first star as a bouquet of flowers was thrown from the stands.
“We paid our respects to a player who has earned that respect with a long career as a francophone Quebecer here in Montreal,” Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said. “I think it was our obligation to do that, even with the result.”
It was the 572nd victory — he trails only Martin Brodeur (691) — of Fleury’s career in his 1,043rd game. And while he has taken a backseat to teammate Filip Gustavsson, Fleury remains competitive on a defensively sound team. In 18 games this season, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder has gone 11-5-1 with a 2.60 average and .908 save percentage.
Fleury, still a practical joker, remains popular in the dressing room. And it was clear his teammates wouldn’t allow anything to scuttle his night, blocking 19 shots.
“Guys would have blocked shots with their face if they had to. That’s how everybody felt about this game,” said centre Frederick Gaudreau, a Bromont native who scored into the empty net and added an assist.
“I had a feeling the environment would be similar to the one (earlier this season) in Pittsburgh,” Minnesota head coach John Hynes said. “It was nice to see the team battle so hard in front of Flower. He made some big saves. As usual, the bigger the stage, the more emotional the stage, it seemed like the better he gets. Obviously, at the end of the game, I know it meant a lot to him.
“He means so much to the players in the room, to the organizations and franchises he has played for. For the league. For Montreal. He’s just a fantastic human being. He’s a highly talented person with a ton of character. He’s beloved in the room.”
There has been a plethora of great NHL goalies from Quebec, including Brodeur, Roberto Luongo and Patrick Roy — Fleury’s boyhood hero. Fleury’s father woke him up in June 1993, allowing him to watch the final moments of the Canadiens’ Cup triumph, and subsequent celebration, against Los Angeles. It was likely that night, Fleury remembered, his life path was determined; the dream of an NHL career set in his mind.
Fleury’s legacy has been established and there will be a place set aside for his eventual induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. His place in history and where he ranks among other Quebec goalies will be left for others to determine.
“I just try to stop the puck,” he said. “I feel very fortunate. I’ve done this for a long time. Obviously, it’s a dream job. It doesn’t feel like a job. I just play hockey and I love it. I’ve loved it since I was a kid.”