Marc-Andre Fleury appeared in his final NHL regular season game after being subbed in in net for the overtime during Minnesota Wild’s 3-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks. After the Wild clinched its ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Fleury voiced a strong message on his feelings.
It was an emotional night inside Xcel Energy Center, as Minnesota punched its ticket to the NHL postseason in an electric clash against the Ducks. Needing just one point to clinch, the Wild pulled their goalie late while trailing by one — and in dramatic fashion, found the game-tying, and most importantly, playoff-clinching goal with less than 30 seconds left.
Filip Gustavsson has become the starting goaltender in Minneapolis, guiding the Wild to the team’s fourth playoff berth in the last five NHL seasons, returning to the postseason after missing out last year.
In such a pivotal game, Gustavsson got the start in net, but once Minnesota locked up the all-important point, head coach John Hynes made the call to give Fleury one last taste of 3-on-3 overtime. It may have been Flower’s final NHL appearance if he doesn’t see action in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild arrives for the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on November 07, 2023 in Elmont, New York.
“It was fun. It was fun just to go one more time out there and play the game I love,” Wild netminder Marc-Andre Fleury said, per NHL.com. “That was cool.”
see also
NHL News: Controversial action in Canucks-Wild leads to season-ending injury, HC Rick Tocchet confirms
Real fun begins
No team in the NHL enters a season dreaming of the Presidents’ Trophy — it’s all about Lord Stanley. Locking up a playoff spot early might bring some peace of mind, but once the postseason frenzy unravels, it holds little weight.
All that matters now is the Cup — competing for it, battling for it, and ultimately hoisting it. Minnesota had to sweat and bleed to get here, but they’re in. And now, the real fun begins: the hunt for the Stanley Cup.
“It took some competitive stamina for us to be able to get it, obviously with the 82nd game and 20 seconds left in the game, but I think it was good,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said about his team. “I’m really happy for the guys. We battled hard throughout the year. Another hard-fought game tonight and found a way to win it, and now we’ve got a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.”
Head coach John Hynes of the Minnesota Wild looks on against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at the United Center on February 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.
What happens in Vegas…
The Wild will take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the First Round, in what’s set to be a litmus test against the second-best team in the West. The two franchises will meet for the second time, as they previously faced off in the 2020-21 opening round, when the Golden Knights prevailed in 7 games.
Snap the streak
The Wild are carrying an unbearable burden on their shoulders, fully aware of the disturbing stat looming over the franchise: Minnesota hasn’t won a playoff series since the 2014-15 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
SurveyWho will move on to the second round?
Who will move on to the second round?
already voted 0 people
Since then, they’ve been bounced in the first round seven times and missed the postseason entirely in two other campaigns.
