Last Wednesday the Pittsburgh Penguins began their quest for their fourth Stanley Cup in team history, and did so in impressive fashion. The Penguins looked like the dominant force that earned them the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, disposing of the New York Islanders, who are making their first appearance in the playoffs since 2007, 5-0 in front of a crowd of 18,612 at CONSOL Energy Center.
Besides the offense clicking on all cylinders, Marc-Andre Fleury flashed signs of his 2009 form when he was paramount in leading the Pens to their first Stanley Cup in 17 years. Fleury stopped 26 shots and was named the No. 1 star in the Game 1 victory over the Islanders.
Unfortunately for Fleury and the Pens, it has been all downhill for him over the past three games.
Over that stretch, Fleury has given up 13 goals including six on Tuesday in New York’s series tying 6-4 win. I understand every time the puck found the back of the net it wasn’t Fleury’s fault. There have been bad bounces and pucks that have been redirected which would be tough for any goaltender to block away. But then there are the far too occasional easy goals that seem to squeak under his pads or through his body (not literally).
During last year’s early playoff exit against the Philadelphia Flyers, Fleury received a lot of criticism after allowing eight goals in Game 2 and letting another six reach the back of the net in Game 3 before being pulled by then Penguins backup Brent Johnson.
It feels like Fleury is heading back in that direction after watching the past three games, and maybe sitting him will give him and the team the wakeup call they need.
Yes it may be true that he could be a little worn out after playing more games in a week due to the NHL lockout that forced teams to cram in 48 games into a three and a half month period. But I’m not buying it.
During the regular season, Fleury played in 33 games, half of what his normal workload is, and rarely played on back-to-back nights thanks to the offseason acquisition of veteran Tomas Vokoun.
Vokoun went a respectable 13-4 this season when called upon and provides the Pens a luxury that many other organizations don’t have, a backup with playoff experience.
The two-time all-star reached the playoffs in 2003-04 and 2006-07 with the Nashville Predators and picked up three wins in the two series.
Yes I understand the three combined wins in the two series doesn’t equal a series victory. But that isn’t his role anymore. And has an experienced goalie, Vokoun has shined when he was called upon to give Fleury a breather throughout the season.
Well it is time for Fleury to have another breather, whether he needs it physically or mentally.
The series shifts back to Pittsburgh on Thursday night for Game 5. That we know for sure. But who will be defending the goal? Fleury is and has been the Pens starting goalie, but on Thursday it is Vokoun’s time to shine.
