The NHL might have cut down the size of goalies’ pads this year, but don’t tell Marc-Andre Fleury.
Flower and the Penguins shutout the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Pittsburgh’s opening night of the season. Chuck Kobasew and Sidney Crosby scored in the first period and Craig Adams added a goal in the third to seal the deal for Pittsburgh who claimed the first two points in the Metropolitan Division.
Kobasew, who was signed a few days ago after a strong showing in preseason, broke a scoreless tie 9:26 into the opening period. Brandon Sutter took a harmless shot but Cory Schneider couldn’t secure the rebound off his left pad. Kobasew swooped in and beat Schneider five-hole to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
Less than three minutes later, Sidney Crosby scored to extend the lead to two. Crosby took advantage of an odd man rush and fire a perfectly placed wrist shot just inside the right post, beating Schneider on the long side.
Thanks in large part to the Penguins revamped defense, the Devils were unable to score through the first two periods. As the game started to open up in the third, Craig Adams buried his first goal of the season off a three on two rush. Evgeni Malkin took the New Jersey defensemen wide before feeding Adams who was trailing on the play.
From there it was all Marc-Andre Fleury. A shot went off the post and trickled behind Fleury who snagged the puck with a no look glove save as it was rolling down his back. Moments later, Fleury stonewalled Adam Henrique with a right pad save on a penalty shot.
The Devils would get a powerplay late in the game, but the Penguins kept New Jersey in check and Fleury left with a shutout.
- Fleury’s shutout was the 24th of his career.
- Crosby’s goal marked the 666th point.
- James Neal left the game with an upper body injury in the first period and did not return.
Three Stars
- Marc-Andre Fleury
- Sidney Crosby
- Craig Adams
Photo courtesy of NHL.com
