Don't look now, but Marc-Andre Fleury's 6-0

by FrankD on Oct 15, 2009 11:08 AM EDT Comment 21 comments

Marc-Andre Fleury

#29 / Goalie / Pittsburgh Penguins

Height: 6-2

Weight: 180

Born: Nov 28, 1984

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Marc-Andre Fleury	6	370	6	0			14	2.27	169	155	.917	0

Is this guy playing out of his mind or what?

Heading into the season I think my one concern was Pittsburgh's defense. This isn't to say that I felt it would simply roll over and let other team's trounce them but I think it was more a concern based on the unknown. How would Jay McKee work in Pittsburgh's system? How would Alex Goligoski look in first full NHL season? Will Kris Letang work - no, SHOOT - the puck more? After the first seven games and six wins, a collection that includes a 'W' over the Rangers, Flyers and Hurricanes, it may be a good enough time to say things are going just fine. I suppose one the factors that I didn't consider was the notion that Marc-Andre Fleury would still be the rock and anchor of Pittsburgh's defense no matter who is working the blue line.

Preseason aside this guy hasn't lost a game since June. He stepped up big in the home opener to make a ridiculous side-to-side save on the Rangers' Vinny Prospal and came right back the next night against the Islanders to rob Mr. Rookie Sensation John Tavares. Need we forget his toe save on Jeff Carter in the first round of the playoffs last year? Or his glove save on Alex Ovechkin's breakaway in Game 7?

This shouldn't come as any surprise, really.

Last night's shootout was just another opportunity for Fleury to shine. Cam Ward vs. Marc-Andre Fleury. The Canadian goaltenders battling for a position on Team Canada's roster fighting to keep their respective team alive long enough to steal the extra point. It's almost like the subplot for some sort of action flick.

After seven rounds of saves (and hey, a little luck from the goal post), Fleury edged out Ward 2-1 to remain undefeated and improve to 6-0.

A few more challenges present themselves before we can all get too carried away. Let's not forget the season is still young and certain teams have given Pittsburgh trouble when least expected (see also: Toronto last season, Phoenix this year).

On Saturday MAF will look to make it 7-0 with a win over the Lightning. The Pens went 3-1 against Tampa Bay last season. Fleury was in net for all of them.

So getting back to my original point/question, do you attributeFleury's success so far this season to his play, or is the defense a huge factor in it as well?

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Gotta give credit to Fleury and the team in front of him.

No one’s having a better year in the net than Marc-Andre Fleury. In the calendar year of 2009 he has an amazing record of 46-18-6. It’s too hard (read: too lazy) to calculate his GAA and sv% but I’m sure it’s solid too.

You can argue playing behind a strong team helps, and sure it doesn’t hurt, but Fleury’s bailed the Pens out more times than he’s let them down, that’s for sure.

You know who else is gonna have a strong team? Team Canada. They want to win, don’t they? Winning’s all MAF’s done lately.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 15, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He’s french and unfortuneately that will count against him. Him and Ward should be battling for the starting spot, not the third.

by PensFan024 on Oct 15, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe it should be up between MAF and Ward too, but let’s not forget Mr. Marty is French too. A bit more removed over the years but still French.

Brodeur is still the top consideration, right?

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by FrankD on Oct 15, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think being French has anything to do with it, being as Brodeur and Luongo are the two most likely goalies to see action, and they both hail from Quebec.

I think there is a bias against Fleury: in part for playing with Crosby+Malkin, in part for previous playoff (and WJC) failures and the fact that he’s not as dominant in terms of shutouts as some of the other guys.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Oct 15, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In 2014 I don’t think it will matter if MAF is french. But, as a youngster battling for an unimportant 3rd spot on the lineup it very well could be the difference maker. All things being equal in the Stevie Y’s mind I have a feeling he doesn’t pick the frenchman that let Canada down in the juniors.

by PensFan024 on Oct 15, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know about his french background, but I’d say he’s got his past big-game performance ghosts as far as team Canada is concerned. He’s also young and even if Team Canada is going with a youth movement, they are going to want experience and a proven commodity in net. He or Cam should be on the team as the No. 3 to gain the experience for the next Olympics where hopefully,Flower will have earned the top spot.

by Smooth555 on Oct 15, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont look now

i know it doesnt mean much, but on espn.com’s nhl page MAF is leading a poll for who should start in net for team canada. maf 41%, marty 27%, luongo 18%.

" Lord Stanley, scratch thier names on your fabled cup" Mike Lange june 12, 2009

by oldtimehockey09 on Oct 15, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He’s the only one out of the three to start hot right out of the gate. Marty isn’t dismal by any means but Luongo certainly isn’t playing up to expectations right now.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 15, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ESPN has an NHL page? Who knew

by biggoron on Oct 15, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just cast my vote.

by PensFan024 on Oct 15, 2009 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d say the defense is holding up quite nicely, giving up 28 shots a game with Flower in net. His save pct. of .917 is impressive and he has been clutch in 2 SO opportunities. Does he deserve Canada’s #3 slot? Does Marty deserve the starting nod? A 3rd string goalie probably sees very little action but it would be a good experience, but would the team be better off if he had the Olympics off to recuperate? There will already be several Pens getting a lot of work in during the Olympics.

by Dutch71 on Oct 15, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dammit Frank you just gave Fleury the kiss of death. Now he’s gonna lose his next 5 games. (hopefully my saying this will negate the negative voodoo you put on him)

by biggoron on Oct 15, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn, I knew someone would bring my bad luck into this. I hold my head in shame sir.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.

by FrankD on Oct 15, 2009 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

fleury looks much more confident in net to me than in past years. i guess winning the cup will do that to ya.

by blaze1344 on Oct 15, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MAF has been very confident in net, also helping is the great shutdown play by Gogo and Mckee, they are teamleaders with +7 and + 6 ratings, not to mention that you have no idea that Gogo would only have 50 NHL games experience when you see his poise with the puck.

There is a knack to flying: it's learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.

by Sid the captain on Oct 15, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think Flower is the best Canadian goaltender right now. I sure hope he makes the team. But I got a hunch that Team Canada will ride Marty to a silver medal and be doubting whether or not they should’ve gone with the younger hotter guy. Either way I think Russia wins the whole thing. Ovie and Malkin on the same line?!? I dislike Ovechkin, but that will be something to watch. Who plays the other wing on that line? Kovy? Datsyk? Sorry Canada.

by KunitzSucks on Oct 16, 2009 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Dats is a center and Semin is a left wing. So who knows who gets the right wing spot. Maybe Kovalev. Kvalchuk plays left wing too.

So you have:

Ocho-Malkin-?
Kovalpuke-Semin-?

I would think Kovalev fits on one of those lines, but there must be more russian right wingers out there that I just cant think of.

by PensFan024 on Oct 16, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant

Kovalpuke-Dats-?

by PensFan024 on Oct 16, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here’s what “Bleacher Report” has:

Ocho-Geno-Kovalpuke
Semin-Dats-Radulov
Kovalev-Federov-Morosov
Sergey Mozyakin-Yashin-Zherdev

To be honest there is a serious drop off after the top two lines. Canada has much more depth.

by PensFan024 on Oct 16, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Kovalev’s game has been in rapid decline the last year… and he’s definitely not a lock… I’d say if Filatov has a good first half of the season in Columbus he might get a shot…

You have to see it for yourself...

by Bla Razor on Oct 16, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs