Fleury ties Roy for 2nd on NHL's all-time wins list
Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury tied Patrick Roy for second on the NHL's all-time wins list with Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fleury made 25 saves on 28 shots to secure his 551st win in his 1,003rd appearance. Wild rookie Marco Rossi helped the veteran netminder get the job done with the game-winner in the extra frame.
. . .#mnwild 4#CBJ 3 pic.twitter.com/7DpHSxFAM0
- Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 7, 2024
"Just one more would be good, just to get a little step," Fleury said with a laugh, per Bally Sports North. "It's an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as (Roy). He was one of my idols growing up. I've been very fortunate to play with many great teammates, many great teams throughout my career."
It was a bit of a nail-biter for Fleury, who had to dash back into the crease when Jackets winger Justin Danforth missed on an empty-net chance. With a crisis narrowly averted, Wild forward Marcus Johansson scored the equalizer with just under two minutes remaining in regulation.
!!! !#mnwild #NHL pic.twitter.com/UfPEcgtMAX
- Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 7, 2024
Fleury also stood tall in overtime when the Jackets had an odd-man rush. There, he flashed the leather on Yegor Chinakhov, and Rossi scored mere moments later.
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- Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) January 7, 2024
"I knew he was to my left," Fleury said of the stop. "When the guy was coming through the middle, he looked at me a bit, but I assumed he was going to try to (pass) there. I was just trying to get across, right? It was fun to catch that one up in the air."
Fleury's next chance to take sole possession of second place will come Monday against the Dallas Stars in Minnesota. He has started four straight games for the Wild with Filip Gustavsson sidelined with a lower-body injury.
"Whoever's in the lineup has to step up, myself included," Fleury said. "It's kind of nice, actually, to play a few games in a row. It feels a little better when you get in there. We needed a win, and finally feels good to get one here."
Martin Brodeur is the league's all-time wins leader with 691 victories.
In September, Fleury said he wouldn't make a decision on his retirement until the end of the 2023-24 season.
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