In what is likely his final game for Pittsburgh, Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves as the Minnesota Wild emerged victorious over the Penguins with a score of 5-3.
For Minnesota, Frederick Gaudreau and Kirill Kaprizov both found the back of the net. Kaprizov also contributed two assists, matching a franchise record by achieving his sixth consecutive multipoint game.
At 39 years old, Fleury has mentioned that the 2024-25 season will likely be his last. He spent the initial 13 years of his career with Pittsburgh, where he was part of three Stanley Cup-winning teams.
Fleury expressed the difficulty of articulating his feelings, describing Pittsburgh as a second home filled with cherished memories.
Selected first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2003 draft, Fleury was a stabilizing force for the team during an unstable period.
The Penguins made a strategic move to secure Fleury in the draft. During the game, he acknowledged the crowd's warm reception, which included a video tribute and a standing ovation.
Pittsburgh saw goals from Rickard Rakell and Valtteri Puustinen, while Sidney Crosby assisted on three occasions. Despite Joel Blomqvist making 34 saves, Pittsburgh encountered their sixth consecutive defeat.
