Yardbarker: Marc-Andre Fleury

Penguins, Fleury Push Flyers To The Brink Of Elimination

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:12:29 -0500

The NHL playoffs are all about goaltending. The team that has the hottest goaltender always wins, no matter how well the other teams plays. Such was the case tonight as the Flyers completely outplayed the Penguins, yet lost 3-1 because Pens goalie Marc Andre-Fleury stood on his head all night. The loss pushes the Flyers to a 3-1 series hole and puts them in a near impossible uphill climb. The Flyers out shot the Penguins 46-26 and had 8 power play chances but just couldn't get anything pa...

Eastern Conference Final Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (6)

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:54:15 -0500

It always takes me being backed up against a wall to get this series predictions done, and the puck drops in fifteen minutes, so it's probably time to get something here. Once again I'll preface this series by admitting the incredible self interest I have in it. However at the same time, these are probably the two teams I know more than any other in the league. As a Penguins fan I've been there all season long. As a relocated resident of the greater Philadelphia area, all my friends, my neighbors, my co-workers, if they carry any interest in hockey, are Flyers fans. When I'm talking hockey, it's usually about either the Penguins or the Flyers. Needless to say, there are a handful of people who I'll be temporarily falling out of communication with for the duration of the series.

As a Penguins fan, they are playing as well now as I've seen them play in years. Since landing Crosby they've gone through periods of putting up big numbers, but their defense hasn't been as solid as it is now in a very long time. Marc Andre Fleury post high ankle sprain injury has been impeccable. And the Penguins at home have been unbeatable , 13 straight home victories dating back to February 24th. Coming out of, perhaps, the most competitive division in hockey, the Atlantic, the Penguins may be the most dynamic team in the NHL.

For the Flyers, it's been more of an up and down season. They have struggled, but they've proven they are up to the task, always bouncing back. At one point late in the season it looked like the had fallen out of the playoff race. They lost 10 straight games in February, and they lost out on the Forsberg lottery (ultimately for the best) in which they were originally favored. However they finished out the season 12-4-4, beating the Penguins on the final day of the season to leap a few teams to the sixth spot. They went 7 games with the Capitals, winning the deciding game with all the momentum against them and on the road. In the second round they were matched up with the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Montreal Canadiens. After dropping game one in overtime, the Flyers bounced back, rattling young Canadien goaltender Carey Price, and winning the next four. Throughout the season they have been down, but they haven't been out.

It's been said again and again, but it can't be underrated, this is going to be an emotional series. Special teams will play a factor, no one can afford letting their emotions get the best of them. Losing Kimmo Timonen hurts Philadelphia more than people may think. Ultimately it comes down to who can win on the road. It shouldn't come as a surprise, but I've got the Penguins in 6.

Don’t Blame Marc-Andre

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:38:06 -0500

You can't expect this kid to stand on his head every night. You gotta play some defense. Old time hockey. Eddie Shore hockey.

PENS FIRE MICHEL THERRIEN

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:19:40 -0500

The Penguins have just parted ways with Head Coach Michel Therrien, who's been at the helm since replacing the Great Ed Olczyk Experiment in 2005-06. The interim coach will be Dan Bylsma, 38, who was most recently the head coach of the Pens' American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Assistant coach Andre Savard was reassigned within the organization, replaced by Pens director of player development Tom Fitzgerald. Assistant Mike Yeo and goaltending coach Gilles Meloc...

Another Win for the Pens

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:29:17 -0500

Normally, I would expect the Penguins to beat the Blue Jackets. But even with the Penguins having won their last game there hasn't been much reason to be certain of anything this sseason. Thankfully, for the sake of my sanity and surely that of many others, the Pens played the way the were ...

That's Terrible

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:26:52 -0500

Sunday afternoon after the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers 3-0, Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was named the first star of the game. As he came on to the ice to receive the honour he was waving what is referred to as a "terrible towel." Which makes sense considering how terrible he ...

NHL 09 Custom Covers

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:35:20 -0500

A collection of custom covers for NHL 09 on the XBox 360. Feel free to leave a request for a missing player and keep checking back for updates.

Custom MAF NHL 09 Cover

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:22:34 -0500

A custom Marc-Andre Fleury cover for NHL 09 on the XBox 360.

Is The New Schedule Format A Good Thing For Fleury?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:24:34 -0500

The NHL has adopted a new format for its regular season schedule. Marc-Andre Fleury and the Pittsburgh Penguins will play fewer games against their Atlantic Division foes while facing every team in the NHL at least once. Is this good or bad news for Fleury and the Pens?

The Deal Is Done!

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:11:06 -0500

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed superstar netminder Marc-Andre Fleury to a new 7-year, $35 million contract. Fleury is the latest of the Penguins young stars to commit to the team long-term as they look to remain a power in the NHL's Eastern Conference for years to come.

Looking Back To Look Ahead

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:25:48 -0500

Watch the triple OT classic Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals in its entirety! While you're there take a look at just some of what you can look forward to at Taking One For The Team in the coming weeks.

MARC-ANDRE FLEURY TUMBLES

Sat, 24 May 2008 22:24:22 -0500

Great way to start the Stanley Cup.....

ESPN picks against the Flyers again

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:04:43 -0500

When will ESPN learn? For the third series in a row, Scott Burnside of ESPN has picked against the Philadelphia Flyers. In the first round, Burnside selected the Capitals in six games, in the second he picked the Canadiens in five. This time, Burnside predicts that the Penguins will beat the Flyers in six games to move on to the Stanley Cup Final. He sites the Penguins ability to capitalize on the Flyers penalties and the solid goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury as the reasons the Pens will get...

Inside Penguins Hockey - Max Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:07:35 -0500

Each week, Comcast presents a 30-minute show entitled "Inside Penguins Hockey" that airs on FSN Pittsburgh. The show provides an exclusive inside look at the Pittsburgh Penguins from game strategies to behind the scenes action. One of the best elements of the show is the Q&A with various players. Episode 9 of Inside Penguins Hockey originally aired on January 19th and featured Max Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury. ...click the link for the full article....

Will Leafs Fall in Pittsburgh?

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:03:08 -0500

The surging Pittsburgh Penguins (5-3-0) host the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs (3-4-3) on Thursday night. After an unremarkable start, the Penguins have managed to put together 3 straight wins and are heading into the second game of a 3-game home stand. The Maple Leafs have only won 1 in their last 5-games, having lost 2 in overtime in that span. The Penguins' performance in the last two games can be credited to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who has given up just 1 goal in two games on 67 shots. His play of late has been a complete turnaround from his inconsistent play in the first five games of the season in which he had a 3.6 goals against average. For the full story, please follow the link....