Published: May 10, 2008 11:49 pm      

MIKE MASTOVICH | Fleury is a comeback kid at 23

Marc-Andre Fleury got an up-close view of multiple Philadelphia Flyers early in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final at Mellon Arena.

The Penguins goaltender frequently contended with a crowded crease and a number of Flyers who rushed the net, pushed and shoved Fleury or badgered his teammates who were trying to clear the front of the cage.

The strategy enabled Philadelphia center Mike Richards to beat Fleury with a wrap-around attempt that bounced off the goalie and a rebound shot through three bodies.

The Penguins eventually adjusted and kept traffic to a minimum for Fleury through most of the final two periods.

The goaltender made 26 saves in a 4-2 victory.

Fleury expects the Flyers will try to invade his space again tonight when Game 2 begins at 7:38 in Pittsburgh.

“They’re a dangerous team. They have guys who can score goals,” Fleury said after Friday’s win. “We have to focus on the play in our zone. I thought they (Flyers) played hard right from the start. They came out and played strong. I just adapted to it.”

Adapted. The word is appropriate in Fleury’s case.

The Penguins’ first-round pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft is living up to the lofty expectations that accompanied his status as the No. 1 selection in his entire draft class.

The 6-foot-2 native of Sorel, Quebec, has played with poise and maturity even though he’s only 23 years old. Fleury enters today’s game with a 9-1 record in the Stanley Cup playoffs as well as a very solid 1.87 goals against average and .937 save percentage.

He already has two shutouts in this postseason – the first two of his playoff career. Fleury stopped 26 shots on April 27 against the New York Rangers and had another 26-save effort to win Game 1 against Ottawa, 4-0, in the first round.

Fleury has taken great strides in shedding a rap that he tended to struggle under the spotlight of the big games, especially on the postseason stage.

All of this has happened despite Fleury sitting out 36 games from Dec. 6 when he suffered a high-ankle sprain to his Feb. 28 return against Boston.

The comeback has been impressive. Ty Conklin deserves credit for literally saving the Pens in Fleury’s absence while posting a career-high 18 wins.

But Fleury put his own stamp on the season by going 10-2-1 after returning to the lineup, then following with a so-far stellar playoff run.



Mike Mastovich is a sports writer for The Tribune-Democrat.