Following a poor performance in Game 2 of the series against the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-André Fleury may have purchased a long-term season ticket on the bench. ‘crew.
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After teammate Filip Gustavsson was masterful in stopping 51 shots in a 3-2 triumph in second overtime in the opening game, the Quebecer was given the mandate to play the next game, but his opponents bounced back strong, scoring seven goals on 31 shots. Defeated 7-3, the Wild will find their supporters on Friday and it’s a safe bet that head coach Dean Evason will bring the Swede back into the fray. And if he continues his good work, the system of alternating goalkeepers in force during the regular season risks taking the road to oblivion.
Having enough experience to recover from a painful evening, Fleury faced his responsibilities in front of the journalists. “It was really embarrassing to give in seven times during a playoff game,” he said.
“You know, I wanted to show up to give my club a chance to stay in the game and win. That’s not what I did. I conceded too many goals, he also lamented. We needed to open up the game to come back up and we gave more chances to score, but basically I didn’t make the key saves.”
Weak on a few Stars goals, the veteran matched his career-high in goals against in a playoff game: he was down seven times in an 8-5 Pittsburgh Penguins loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012 Except that it should not be thought shot and if there is an individual well placed to confirm it, it is the pilot of the Stars, Peter DeBoer, who managed “Flower” at the Golden Knights of Vegas between 2019 and 2021.
“They were transparent in their discussions, even with the media, and mentioned that they were going to use their two goalkeepers. We were ready for one or the other,” said the instructor, who also used to regularly call on two doormen in Vegas, Robin Lehner and Fleury.
To hell with excuses!
Even if his teammates did not show themselves in their best light, the Sorelois took the blame, he who was foiled on the first shot sent in his direction; Roope Hintz beat him on a breakaway early in the game.
“It’s not the start I was hoping for, said the one who had not played for eight days. I don’t know when my last game was, but I have to sort this all out. I’ve been in this sport for quite a long time and had good training before. It shouldn’t have happened.”
As for Evason, he refused to point the finger at his goalkeeper.
“We made the decision to go with him. The Stars got a shorthanded breakaway and scored three times on the power play. What did you want from him? He made great saves for us, he pointed out. We have discussed the overtime granted. There were other, what… five that led to goals, in all? We gave chances and they played very well, except that we did not make the right gestures in front of our goalkeeper.