Marc-Andre Fleury stops 26 to lead Wild past Penguins in likely last game in Pittsburgh
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Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury acknowledges fans following a video tribute to his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins during a first period timeout in an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) and Evgeni Malkin (71) work the puck behind the net with Minnesota Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek (14) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Minnesota Wild's Mats Zuccarello (36) returns to the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Valtteri Puustinen (48) returns to the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell returns to the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell celebrates with Marcus Pettersson (28), Kris Letang (58), and Sidney Crosby (87) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Minnesota Wild's Frederick Gaudreau (89) celebrates with Marcus Foligno and Yakov Trenin (13) after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell (67) gets a shot past Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for a goal with Marco Rossi (23) defending during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Michael Bunting, right, with Marco Rossi (23) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury squirts himself in the face during a second period timeout during an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell gets a shot past Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for a goal as Jake Middleton (5) defends Evgeni Malkin (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH — Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots in what will likely be his final game in Pittsburgh as the Minnesota Wild beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 Tuesday night.
Frederick Gaudreau scored twice and Kirill Kaprizov added a goal and two assists. Kaprizov tied the franchise record with his sixth straight multi-point game. Mats Zuccarello and Jakub Lauko also scored for Minnesota.
Rickard Rakell scored twice, and Valtteri Puustinen got his first power-play goal for Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby had three assists. Joel Blomqvist stopped 34 shots for Pittsburgh.
Fleury, who turns 40 next month, indicated the 2024-25 season will be his last. Fleury, now in his 21st NHL season, played his 100th game with Minnesota on Tuesday.
He spent the first 13 seasons of his career with Pittsburgh and won three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017.
Pittsburgh traded up to select an 18-year-old Fleury No. 1 in the 2003 NHL Draft and he responded by stabilizing the franchise during a tumultuous time in its history.
Fleury, still a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, acknowledged the crowd following a video tribute during the first television timeout as the beloved goaltender received a standing ovation and loud chants in an emotional moment.
Pittsburgh has lost its sixth straight game. It gave up at least four goals for the seventh straight time and the ninth time in 11 games
Pittsburgh held an early 2-0 lead, but Lauko and Gaudreau scored in a 55-second span, as the Wild took control with the next four goals.
Fleury leads virtually all major goaltending categories in Penguins’ history, including wins (375), games played (667), shutouts (44), playoff wins (62), playoff games (115) and playoff shutouts (10).
The Penguins continue a three-game home stand Thursday against Anaheim.
