Fleury Faces Penguins in Emotional Final Showdown

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Marc-Andre Fleury, the beloved goaltender who spent 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, faced his former team one last time on Sunday, March 10, 2025, as the Minnesota Wild hosted the Penguins. This matchup marked a poignant moment in Fleury’s career, as he prepares to retire after 22 seasons in the NHL.

With emotions running high, Fleury took the ice against the Penguins, a team he was drafted by first overall in the 2003 NHL Draft and won three Stanley Cups with. In their previous encounter back in October, Fleury made 29 saves in a Wild victory. However, on this day, it was the Penguins who secured a 3-1 win, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both contributing to the scoreboard.

“I was waiting for Tanger (Kris Letang) to score!” Penguins forward Bryan Rust joked post-game. “But yeah, it’s cool. Sid and I were joking about it before the game. I was like, wouldn’t that be nice if you got the game-winner tonight? And here we are [laughs].”

Fleury expressed his mixed feelings about the game before it began. “It’s always still weird when I play against them,” he said. “I like to win against them to get a little bit of bragging rights, but they’ve been such great teammates and good friends. It’s fun to cross paths.”

Crosby, who enjoyed many competitive moments against Fleury, reflected on their time together. “He’s probably saved a lot more than I’ve scored against him, but definitely a fun competition,” Crosby noted. “Having to go against him every day in practice made me better. Those memories are special.”

The emotional weight of the game was underscored as Fleury moved into second place for all-time starts among goaltenders in NHL history, finishing with 1,015 games played in a career that has seen him establish himself as a legendary figure both on and off the ice.

Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan praised Fleury, highlighting his love for the game as a key component of his long career. “To play as long as he has at such a high level, you have to truly love what you do, and he does,” Sullivan commented. “His passion for the game has allowed him to endure for so long.”

Despite the significance of the game, Fleury focused on the task at hand, stating, “Honestly, I tried to not make it too emotional. I just tried to stay in the moment and play the game.”

Both teams’ players celebrated the chance to compete one last time with Fleury, making this game special for all participants involved. “He’s had an amazing career, and it’s fun having the opportunity to play with him for a big chunk of it,” Crosby said as he reflected on their shared history.

After the game, Fleury made affectionate remarks about his time in Pittsburgh and the friendships forged over the years, emphasizing that those relationships would always hold deep meaning for him. “It’s hard when that happens, right? But I always keep good memories,” he said.