When the NHL announced the rosters for the 60th NHL All-Star on Saturday, the Penguins were sure to be well represented.
Sidney Crosby is the face of the league, and despite a recent goal-scoring slump, was a shoo-in for the game. Evgeni Malkin, as well, has been one of the league’s most electric performers and is currently third in the league in scoring.
The Penguins third obvious candidate, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, was somehow left off the roster. It’s crazy that Fleury, an all-star in 2011, would be snubbed in what has been clearly the best statistical season of his career.
The Penguins are at the midway point of their season, and here are the totals Fleury is on pace to reach: 42 wins, 12 shutouts, a .926 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average.
Those aren’t just career-high numbers, they’re hall-of-fame numbers.
Of goaltenders with at least 21 games played, Fleury is fourth in save percentage and third in goals-against average. He is first among all goaltenders in shutouts and tied for fifth in wins.
Here’s how Fleury’s numbers stack up against the goaltenders selected.
The sixth goaltender, Chicago’s Corey Crawford was voted in as a starter as part of a ridiculous fan vote that led to the starting lineup featuring five Blackhawks and Buffalo third-liner Zemgus Girgensons.
It’s pretty clear from the numbers that Fleury is one of the six best goaltenders in the league. Furthermore, Sergei Bobrovsky, who clearly hasn’t been as good as Fleury this year, wasn’t selected just to be his team’s lone representative. Three other Blue Jackets will represent the hometown team in the game.
Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard suffered a groin injury on Saturday night, and it has been reported that he will be out through the All-Star Game.
MRI on Wings’ Jimmy Howard only showed slight groin tear. Ultrasound Monday. Out until All-Star break for now.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 12, 2015
If that is the case, the NHL will get the chance to right a wrong and invite Fleury in his stead.
Photo credit: USA Today
