The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Saturday night in a preseason game that was more about nostalgia and honoring a legend than the score. The contest marked Marc-Andre Fleury's emotional return to Pittsburgh for one final game as a Penguin.
Fleury, who officially retired from the NHL after last season as a member of the Minnesota Wild, signed a professional tryout contract with the Penguins earlier this month. This allowed the 40-year-old goaltender to don the black and gold one last time and complete his 21-season NHL career where it began.
The atmosphere at PPG Paints Arena was electric, with a rare preseason sellout crowd. Fans lined up early, many sporting Fleury's #29 jersey and holding signs expressing their appreciation. Penguins players, including Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, wore Fleury-themed shirts during pregame warmups. When Fleury emerged from the tunnel for warmups, sporting his signature yellow pads, the crowd erupted in chants of "Fleury! Fleury! Fleury!". Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang, Fleury's longtime teammates, were in the lineup, enabling them to play alongside their close friend one more time. The four posed for a photo together after warmups, much to the delight of the fans.
Fleury was given the choice of playing the first or third period and opted for the third. He stopped all eight shots he faced, securing the 4-1 victory for the Penguins. Throughout the game, the crowd showered him with adoration, cheering his every move. He was named the game's first star, allowing fans and players on both teams to send him off into retirement with a standing ovation. After the game, Fleury participated in a final shootout, giving fans one more unforgettable moment.
Fleury said, "It was a little surreal, a little crazy, but also comfortable. When I played here with other teams, I always felt a little weird, but this felt normal … like it used to". He added, "I feel bad because I've done so many laps and goodbyes and I keep coming back. I'm thankful I got the opportunity to come back for one more go-around".
Fleury was drafted first overall by the Penguins in 2003 and played 13 seasons in Pittsburgh. During his time with the team, he won three Stanley Cups and established himself as one of the greatest goalies in the game. He holds nearly every major goaltending record in Penguins' history, including games played (691), wins (375), goals-against average (2.58), and shutouts (44).
Fleury's return was not just a celebration of his accomplishments but also a testament to the impact he had on the city of Pittsburgh and its fans. His skill, smile, and Stanley Cups helped build the Penguins back up. As one fan noted, even when Fleury returned to Pittsburgh with the Vegas Golden Knights, "people rooted more for Vegas that night than the Pens only because of the flower,". His final game in a Penguins uniform was a fitting farewell to a player who will forever be remembered as a Pittsburgh icon.
