PITTSBURGH — In what is anticipated to be his last appearance in Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury showcased his skill by stopping 26 shots during a matchup that saw the Minnesota Wild triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins with a score of 5-3 on Tuesday evening.
Frederick Gaudreau was instrumental in the Wild’s victory, netting two goals, while Kirill Kaprizov contributed with a goal and two assists. Kaprizov’s performance was notable as he tied the franchise record for consecutive multipoint games, reaching six. The team also benefited from additional goals by Mats Zuccarello and Jakub Lauko.
On the Pittsburgh side, Rickard Rakell found the net twice, and Valtteri Puustinen secured his first power-play goal for the Penguins. Despite Sidney Crosby assisting on three goals, and Joel Blomqvist making 34 saves, the team was unable to secure a win.
Fleury, who will turn 40 in the coming month, has hinted that the current season could mark the end of his illustrious career. This game also marked his 100th appearance with Minnesota, adding to his impressive 21 seasons overall in the NHL.
Initially drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2003 NHL Draft at just 18 years old, Fleury spent his first 13 seasons with the franchise, achieving remarkable success with three Stanley Cup victories in 2009, 2016, and 2017. His return to Pittsburgh drew an emotional response from the fans, who expressed their continued admiration through a standing ovation and cheers after a video tribute during a break in the game.
**Takeaways:**
The Wild have been performing well, winning five out of their last six matches, while the Penguins have hit a rough patch, suffering a sixth consecutive loss. Pittsburgh has now conceded over four goals in each of the last seven games and in nine of their last eleven outings.
**Key Moment:**
Although the Penguins initially led 2-0, momentum shifted quickly when Lauko and Gaudreau scored within 55 seconds of each other, allowing the Wild to gain the upper hand and proceed to score four unanswered goals.
**Key Stat:**
Fleury holds nearly all significant goaltending records in Pittsburgh history, including wins with 375, games played at 667, shutouts at 44, playoff wins at 62, playoff games at 115, and playoff shutouts at 10.
**Up Next:**
The Wild will kick off a three-game homestand on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Penguins will continue their three-game homestand on Thursday, facing off against the Anaheim Ducks.