Fleury Makes 15 Saves In Pens' 5-1 Win Over Lightning
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- Marc-Andre Fleury made a triumphant return to the net, stopping 15 shots in the Penguins' 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning Friday night.
Fleury, who has struggled this season, winning just two of his nine starts, earned his 150th career win.
Pascal Dupuis, Alex Goligoski, Max Talbot, Sidney Crosby and Deryk Engelland scored for Pittsburgh, which improved to 3-7 at the CONSOL Energy Center.
Both Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay were held scoreless in the first period, but Pascal Dupuis got a tip-in past Mike Smith at 8:01. Alex Goligoski made it 2-0 with a wrist shot less than a minute later.
In the third period, Steven Stamkos got a slap shot goal during the power play at 5:30. But from there, it was all Penguins.
Maxime Talbot, Sidney Crosby and Deryk Engelland all scored in a seven-minute span for the win.
This win was an important one for Fleury. He had essentially been replaced by backup goalie Brent Johnson after having a slow start.
The only game in which Fleury had not given up at least three goals this season was his most recent start Saturday in Phoenix, when he was pulled after giving up two goals on five shots in the first 7 minutes.
"He played great tonight," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. "He had some big saves and stayed tall. It was a great game for Marc-Andre Fleury."
Fleury was boosted by a strong defensive effort by the Penguins. Pittsburgh allowed only 11 even-strength shots. But he also made some key saves, stopping sniper Martin St. Louis as he was in alone during the second period, and getting his left leg out to stop Adam Hall on a rebound while Tampa Bay was on a 5-on-3 power play with about 13 minutes to play.
That was part of Pittsburgh killing 1:15 of a Lightning two-man advantage with the game at 2-1. Less than 2 minutes prior to that save, Stamkos scored 10 seconds into an earlier two-man advantage on a one-timed slap shot from the left-wing circle after playing catch with St. Louis.
"He's a good goalie. He's won a championship," Stamkos said about Fleury. "He knows what it takes. He's just been struggling but he's not going to struggle all year. He made some big saves."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
