Now that the fact that we (Pens) have won the Stanley Cup has truly hit home, I started looking back at certain pivotal games throughout all four rounds, and there seemed to be one constant.
Yes, Sid the Kid dominated rounds one and two, Geno took over round three, and scored a lot in the finals, but there was one player that showed up for all four rounds of the playoffs, and is specifically the biggest reason we won it all.
This dude right here.
You can pretty much point to one specific time in each series where Marc-Andre Fleury made a save gave momentum to the Penguins.Here are a few of the reasons why we won the Cup:
Round 1 Philadelphia - Game 2 - 3rd period
Pittsburgh won game one, and the second game was a tight one. Philly was up 2-1 with under 10 minutes to play. If the Flyers scored again they would be heading home with momentum with the series tied at one a piece.
Jeff Carter looked to score on what looked to be a wide open net, but Fleury shows his amazing lateral speed to make an incredible toe save. This save gives the Pens momentum, and Geno ties the game with 3 minutes left. Of course, Billy Guerin scores in OT to give the Pens a 2-0 series lead going back to Philly.
OT would not have been possible without this save:
Round 2 Washington - Game 7 - 1st period
This series was epic. Pittsburgh clawed back to take a 3-2 series lead, after losing the first two games. It seemed the Pens had a really good chance to close the series out at home in game 6, but the Caps played a strong game and prevailed, setting up game 7 in Washington.
The Caps have a team that can dominate offensively, and will shoot from anywhere on the ice - especially when they play at home. This overwhelms goalies quite often, so I was worried about this game.
The Caps came out strong, and Fleury made a big stop very early on. I think this put him in top form - thankfully for the Pens, because Ovechkin was sent in alone three minutes into the game, which resulted in a save that will be talked about for many years. This seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Capitals, and allowed the Pens to dominate.
If Ovechkin scores on that shot - Caps win.
Here's the save:
This series was epic. Pittsburgh clawed back to take a 3-2 series lead, after losing the first two games. It seemed the Pens had a really good chance to close the series out at home in game 6, but the Caps played a strong game and prevailed, setting up game 7 in Washington.
The Caps have a team that can dominate offensively, and will shoot from anywhere on the ice - especially when they play at home. This overwhelms goalies quite often, so I was worried about this game.
The Caps came out strong, and Fleury made a big stop very early on. I think this put him in top form - thankfully for the Pens, because Ovechkin was sent in alone three minutes into the game, which resulted in a save that will be talked about for many years. This seemed to take the wind out of the sails of the Capitals, and allowed the Pens to dominate.
If Ovechkin scores on that shot - Caps win.
Here's the save:
Round 4 Detroit - Game 6 - 3rd period
In a very close game, and the Pens facing elimination, Fleury made a massive save on Dan Cleary with under two minutes remaining. The save helped the Pens keep the one goal lead, which held up, as the Pens won 2-1, forcing a game 7.
In a very close game, and the Pens facing elimination, Fleury made a massive save on Dan Cleary with under two minutes remaining. The save helped the Pens keep the one goal lead, which held up, as the Pens won 2-1, forcing a game 7.
Round 4 Detroit - Game 7 - 3rd period
Every fans and players dream - the two best teams in the league facing off in a one game winner takes all affair.
By now everyone knows Mad Max ha a game to remember, scoring both goals in a thrilling 2-1 victory.
But the thing I will remember most about this game, is the save made on Lidstrom with under two seconds remaining..
Unbelievable.
Every fans and players dream - the two best teams in the league facing off in a one game winner takes all affair.
By now everyone knows Mad Max ha a game to remember, scoring both goals in a thrilling 2-1 victory.
But the thing I will remember most about this game, is the save made on Lidstrom with under two seconds remaining..
Unbelievable.
You may have noticed that I never added any big saves from round 3 vs Carolina. In that series, Fleury and Cam Ward dualled in what was looking to be a very tight low scoring series. Fleury matched Ward big save after big save, until the Pens offense (specifically Geno) dominated the series, and made Ward actually look pretty average.
Now, I understand that it takes a total team effort to win the Cup, and you can totally justify Geno winning the Conn Smyth (playoff MVP)...but I would bet if the decision for the Conn Smyth was to be given out the day after the Cup is awarded, the man known as the Flower would have won easily.
I'm going to quote a very wise man (ahem - myself) from this blog before game 6 of the Finals:
Stanley Cup winning goalies are a special rare breed - some pretty much win it outright for their teams (Ward, Giguere) - and some are bit players that are a product of the machine in front of them (lookin' at you Osgood) - but none of that matters once they hoist the Cup.
Marc Andre Fleury is a really good young goalie. He has unfortunately shown a penchant for giving up weird goals at the worst times - too many to mention.
He has otherworldly reflexes and talent, but it looks to me like he hasn't mastered the mental toughness goalies need to take it to the next level consistently. There are flashes, but that's it.
If the Pens are going to win tonight or in game 7, Fleury is going to have to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Crosby and Malkin.
Now, I understand that it takes a total team effort to win the Cup, and you can totally justify Geno winning the Conn Smyth (playoff MVP)...but I would bet if the decision for the Conn Smyth was to be given out the day after the Cup is awarded, the man known as the Flower would have won easily.
I'm going to quote a very wise man (ahem - myself) from this blog before game 6 of the Finals:
Stanley Cup winning goalies are a special rare breed - some pretty much win it outright for their teams (Ward, Giguere) - and some are bit players that are a product of the machine in front of them (lookin' at you Osgood) - but none of that matters once they hoist the Cup.
Marc Andre Fleury is a really good young goalie. He has unfortunately shown a penchant for giving up weird goals at the worst times - too many to mention.
He has otherworldly reflexes and talent, but it looks to me like he hasn't mastered the mental toughness goalies need to take it to the next level consistently. There are flashes, but that's it.
If the Pens are going to win tonight or in game 7, Fleury is going to have to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Crosby and Malkin.
I think Marc-Andre Fleury has proven - without any doubt - that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Sid and Geno. His performances in game 6 and 7 will forever wipe away all those softies and weird goals he let in.
He will no longer be known as the goalie that let in the strange goal that cost Canada the World Juniors - he will be known as a Stanly Cup champion.
He will no longer be known as the goalie that let in the strange goal that cost Canada the World Juniors - he will be known as a Stanly Cup champion.
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