Marc-Andre Fleury's resurgence in the desert

Finding the right words to describe Marc-Andre Fleury's 400th career NHL win isn't an easy task. Yes, the milestone itself is impressive, and yes, the fact that he did so at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia — a tough building against a Flyers team that is quite familiar with Fleury and battling for a playoff spot — is certainly striking.

However, "impressive" doesn't quite do Fleury justice. The 33-year-old netminder's journey from from No. 1 overall draft pick to Stanley Cup champion, bench warmer, starter once more and 400-game winner as a member of the best expansion team in sports history is difficult to put a price on.

On top of it all, Fleury himself isn't looking to put the perfect word on it. He'd rather not dwell on the milestone and would prefer to get back to work.

"The last few days the media has asked about it and talked about it,” he told the media after the win in Philadelphia. “I’m happy I don’t have to think about it any more. We’re done with it and we can move forward.”

His team was a bit more complimentary in talking about the big win.

"To get his 400th win is a tremendous accomplishment," Golden Knights bench boss Gerard Gallant said after the 3-2 victory over the Flyers. "I hope we’re around for 500."

The bounce-back season that Fleury has had makes the milestone even sweeter. Despite being part of the Pittsburgh Penguins' back-to-back championship teams, he spent the bulk of that time sidelined with injury and eventually backing up goaltender Matt Murray, who took over as the starter in his rookie season. At this time last season, Fleury's name was making headlines not for his milestone-worthy play, but because he seemed a likely candidate for whom the Pens would expose in the expansion draft. With Murray taking the helm between the pipes, Fleury's days in Pittsburgh appeared numbered whether he was exposed the in draft or not.

Then came the news in June that he waived his no-movement clause and would be available should the new Golden Knights club want him. He ended his final campaign with the Pens having only played 38 games, going 18-10-7 with a pedestrian 3.02 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Frankly, after years of up-and-down play, he looked a little washed and like a netminder on the back end of his once-promising career.

Now in Vegas with a playoff run on the horizon, he has registered a 25-9-3 record with a 2.15 goals against average and .930 save percentage — numbers that are on pace to be new career bests some 14 years after his NHL debut and his first season away from Pittsburgh.

Fleury himself may argue that his success has more to do with the team in front of him that is, unquestionably, really good than anything he's done in goal. However, the skaters in front of him aren't the ones who stopped 38 of 40 shots against the Flyers en route to becoming the 13th goalie in NHL history to reach the 400-win mark, and they aren't the ones tasked as the last line defense between the puck and goal line.

That won't stop Fleury from deflecting any praise lobbed his way. He isn't one to bask in the spotlight when there's still hockey to be played.

"Maybe it’s something I’ll be more proud of when I’m done," he told the press after the win. "But I’m still playing so I’m looking forward to the next game.”

You can no doubt bet he's also looking to make another postseason run as well, once again as the lead man between the pipes.