Marc-André Fleury is playing his best hockey ever.
- Thread starter Will Hunting
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Lebowski
El Duderino
- Dec 5, 2010
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He has always been a very talented goalie. Probably the most athletic of them all as we speak. But his main issue remains between his ears. Talent is only part of what it takes to perform constantly. Most of it comes from confidence, and it's been lacking for Fleury over quite a few seasons now.
Will he maintain that kind of play come crunch time is the only thing that should matter to Pens fans.
Will he maintain that kind of play come crunch time is the only thing that should matter to Pens fans.
Ducks in a row
Go Ducks Quack Quack
H382
Registered User
- Oct 20, 2006
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Ducks in a row
Go Ducks Quack Quack
Yes he won a cup on a great Penguins team but after that he has sucked in the playoffs so...
Will Hunting
Immortal Adams
Still 5 months until there´s a PO, so it´s not like we can really jinx something significant now. So.. why not? 
Fleury is playing like a TOP3 goalie in this league actually. It´s something that wasn´t happening before even in the regular seasons. I just wanted to say that he looks like a completely different guy now. POs is still a slight concern, but last years POs was already decent by him and he just keeps on improving his goaltending now.
For the first time in 4 years, I have A LOTS of confidence in him going forward. We were all scared as hell from him in the POs even when he had decent regular seasons before. Those bad habits are disappearing, though. And that´s the key.
Fleury is playing like a TOP3 goalie in this league actually. It´s something that wasn´t happening before even in the regular seasons. I just wanted to say that he looks like a completely different guy now. POs is still a slight concern, but last years POs was already decent by him and he just keeps on improving his goaltending now.
For the first time in 4 years, I have A LOTS of confidence in him going forward. We were all scared as hell from him in the POs even when he had decent regular seasons before. Those bad habits are disappearing, though. And that´s the key.
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Islanderfan17
Registered User
- Aug 24, 2010
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This. He hasn't been a regular season issue for a long time, just sucks in the playoffs.
BobCole
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- May 21, 2014
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I've watched virtually every game Fleury's played as a professional, and this is unequivocally the best hockey he's ever played. The only other comparable stretch I can think of came during 2008, when he missed most of the regular season with injury but played very well in both the regular season & POs. I really hope he keeps it up this season!
PensPlz
Registered User
So we only talk about players when they do well in the playoffs? Fleury is carrying this team with the entire Crosby line out as well as other key players. He deserves some recognition. You don't have to give it to him but to hate on him is pretty petty.
As for the playoffs, goal tending was never the main reason why we were eliminated from the playoffs since MAF has been on this team. Post your gifs of some softies, but it's the offense that doesn't show up in elimination games.
Bieber fever
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IdealisticSniper
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- Nov 9, 2008
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Fleury is the single reason Pittsburgh beat TB tonight. Guy was unbelievable and made multiple sure goal saves especially in the first.
It could have very easily been 3 or 4 to nothing in the first period of not for him. He's playing great.
It could have very easily been 3 or 4 to nothing in the first period of not for him. He's playing great.
He looks good.
But the whole playoff thing you mentioned is still the issue. Last year he wasn't why the Pens exited the playoffs, but if you recall the Columbus OT loss, he made some of the dumbest ****ing decisions I've EVER seen in a hockey game. He needs to cut back on the omgwtf moments in the playoffs before I am comfortable with him.
But the whole playoff thing you mentioned is still the issue. Last year he wasn't why the Pens exited the playoffs, but if you recall the Columbus OT loss, he made some of the dumbest ****ing decisions I've EVER seen in a hockey game. He needs to cut back on the omgwtf moments in the playoffs before I am comfortable with him.
Will Hunting
Immortal Adams
While he hasn´t been an issue in regular season.. he hasn´t been THIS DOMINANT either. You really don´t see that difference in his overall play/style?
But yeah, this thread is going exactly how I expected and probably even worse. I probably shouldn´t have created it, MAF could win a ****ing Vezina and people will still say that it doesn´t matter. Seriously, the guy is 17-4-2 and he´s winning us tough games even when we are depleted like crazy. Without him, the Pens would be looking at Isles running backs from far distance now.
KaseMeOutside
Based
- Oct 18, 2011
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Plural
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- Mar 10, 2011
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Fleury has always been a mystery to me. The guy had all the tools to be a top-goalie in the league. But for some odd reason he never really took that step. Might be that he's done it now. IF Fleury is playing to his abilities and Crosby/Malkin duo is healthy in the playoffs, the Pens are going to make noise.
Here's hoping that they all fail as badly as possible.
Here's hoping that they all fail as badly as possible.
Well man, he hasn't exactly done himself any favors. I want the guy to succeed as much as anyone, but it's not the regular season that has troubled him. He wasn't great last year in the playoffs. He just wasn't the reason the Pens lost. He was good overall. But not without his massive mistakes in crucial moments. That is his problem and it is still his problem. It will be what he is known for until he shows he won't make a mindblowing mistake or two.
Romang67
BitterSwede
I wonder how he would do on the Sharks...
Also, didn't he do really well when Crosby and Malkin went down in 2011?
Also, didn't he do really well when Crosby and Malkin went down in 2011?
Dying Alive
Phil = 2x Champ
Will Hunting
Immortal Adams
I´m fully aware of it. Some mistakes came in the last playoffs too, but there were less mistakes than we expected and it was definitely a solid step for him already.
The key thing is that Fleury is playing pretty simple hockey now. He was making those terrible mistakes in regular seasons before too, mainly because of his crazy style. I don´t see it anymore. He simplified his game and is looking extremely calm. It shouldn´t be THAT difficult for him to keep this type of play and then we can be all very optimistic. Maybe his play will drop just a bit in the playoffs (just because, you know), but it still shouldn´t be a killing problem considering how good he is playing now. Just keep these simple general habits and I don´t really see how can he implode in the POs again..
