History Indicates Fleury Will Rebound

It's never a good thing when your favorite team's goalie gets pulled from a start. When it happens in the Stanley Cup Finals, there's a pretty good chance something really bad happened.

Saturday night, Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma put goalie Marc-Andre Fleury out of his misery in the second period of a 5-0 Detroit win. With Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals looming Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, everyone will want to know if Fleury can rebound.

Obviously, Fleury believes in himself, and he thinks he'll be just fine.

"Obviously, we lost 5-0, so I can't be too happy," Fleury said. "But I'm looking forward to Game 6. It'll be good to get back home."

What does history say?

Well, this is quite a rare occurrence. Fleury is the first goalie since 2006 to leave a Stanley Cup Finals game before it was over, discounting the numerous instances of goalies being pulled for extra attackers late in games. In the opening game of the 2006 Finals between Carolina and Edmonton, Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson left the game with a knee injury.

If you want to find a healthy goalie getting pulled from a Stanley Cup Finals game, you have to go all the way back to 2003. In Game 6, the Anaheim Ducks chased legendary New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur in the third period of a 5-2 win. Corey Schwab took over in net for the Devils after Brodeur allowed five goals on 22 shots.

Brodeur was back in the net two nights later for Game 7, and he threw a shutout to help New Jersey win the Stanley Cup.

Before Brodeur, Ed Belfour was the last goalie to get the gate in a Finals game. While with Dallas in 2000, Belfour laid a mighty egg in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against New Jersey. After giving up six goals on 18 shots, Belfour was pulled in favor of young backup Manny Fernandez. New Jersey won the game 7-3 and the Cup in six games, but Belfour did all he could to keep Dallas in the series.

After stopping just 12 shots in the first game, Belfour stopped 175 of the 183 shots he faced over the series' final five games. Included in that was a 48-save, triple-overtime shutout of New Jersey in Game 5, as the Stars faced elimination.

If you believe in history, you have to like Fleury's chances. Anyone who watched Games 3 and 4 of this series knows Fleury is plenty capable of stopping the puck. His psyche has to be strong, because he has gotten this far in hockey while being a goalie, the most mentally demanding position on the ice.

It's not common to see a goalie pulled under these circumstances in the Finals, but it doesn't appear to -- by itself -- be a crippling blow to Pittsburgh's chances.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-07-2009 @ 11:47AM

toyfull1 said...

i would think fleury has a looooooooong way to go before his name is mentioned alongside belfour and brodeur ...eh?

6-08-2009 @ 11:20AM

denny said...

Even though game 6 is in Pittsburgh, it's different than game 3 & 4. Detroit will have just as much momentum going into this game as Pittsburgh has being on home ice. One game left for the Wings, a 5-0 victory in Game 5. The Wings were here last year - raising the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh.

6-07-2009 @ 1:02PM

cjgdnight said...

yeah he may need to win a couple more battles before the street cred kicks in

BUT

I hope he keeps his eyes open at home... can't think of another reason he let 5 pucks go through like that. I know of sleep apnea.... is there such a thing as sight apnea? perhaps that is what he has!

6-07-2009 @ 7:12PM

rwing said...

Yeah, don't give the Wings ANY credit....after all we won.

6-07-2009 @ 4:47PM

James said...

My goodness is all about the Pens??? HEY DETROIT IS ONE WIN AWAY ... here's one for you ... THE DETROIT STARS CAME TO PLAY ... or how about this ... CROSBY IS A FACE THE MEDIA MADE. Once again the media has showned what small attention spans they have. I loved hearting how Osgood had it easy last night ... this comes from the same morans that have told us that the Pens have some of the best talent in the NHL ... Sorry Pen stars but it seems that since Osgood had it easy last night, you have been portayed as a bunch of wannabees and never have beens. Detroit, please finish these guys off so I don't have to listen to another story about the Pens grossly over rated team for at least another three months. Go Wings and tank you Chris Osgood fgor your brilliant play last night, you truly are one of the best ever.

6-08-2009 @ 4:24PM

M.DONOSO said...

Crosby is a face the media made??? Are you serious or just stupid?? Look at the points Crosby and Malkin have in the playoffs and your gonna say that hes a face the media made?? You truly are an idiot if thats what you think. Im not saying Pittsburgh this or Pittsburgh that but you have to give him credit for the numbers hes put up so far. GET A CLUE!!!!

6-07-2009 @ 4:49PM

thetrutheh said...

wing fans know this series is far from over. we know how desperate the NHL is for the pens to win. what other reason would bettman give for not suspending malkin after his bs at the end of game 2, or the utter embarrassing behavior of the pens near the end of game 5. is a 2 day rest enough for the wings, who knows. if the pens win in game 6, hopefully the wings will be able to put on another hockey clinic in game 7.
wing fans would love to see the wings win in detroit so we can let gary bettman see what he means to wing fans.

6-07-2009 @ 5:47PM

John said...

What are the stats when your captain is pulled from the game halfway thru the third period?

6-07-2009 @ 6:33PM

One would think they are not very good.

You guys played a very good professional game last night. Got past the forechecking and kicked butt.

6-07-2009 @ 6:42PM

You know I kinda get tired of hearing how over rated Crosby is... he got hurt and the PENS went through a very bad time... he is healthy and now they are in the finals. Think that about covers that.

He is not a sissy.. he makes and takes contact, and he skates with speed and agility.

Now if you're complaining that wings players deserve more credit, that is probably true, but stop looking like a fool... the wings are double and triple teaming Crosby and that allows others to shine. The wings are generally well represented at the all star game, wouldn't you agree?

6-07-2009 @ 7:05PM

hey cjd, it's just in the way he carries himself on the ice. He totally lost composure last night, something you never see the best Captains do. There's no denying his skill, but he needs to grow up and just play, not lie on the ice for 30 seconds after he gets a lil whack in the back of the calf, but then somehow is magically better the next shift. Meanwhile Talbot slashed Datsyuk in his injured foot, and Pav doesn't even flinch.

6-07-2009 @ 7:27PM

These types of posts go back to game 1. Last night was unusual for his emotion... maybe that is what he felt his team needed... maybe he just needs to grow up.... I do not know the dynamics of the locker room. I do know his individual talent level is as good as anyone in the game (thus the air time). Would he be a captain of a team like the red wings... probably not.. you guys have very crafty veteran players who aren't seeing anything for the first time in a hockey game(why you are up in the series), but for the team Crosby has around him... that might be what they need.

6-07-2009 @ 7:30PM

To add to the comments.... the wings did play with extreme class in that they could have retaliated being up 5 goals, but they just took care of business, won the game and nobody got hurt.

6-07-2009 @ 7:33PM

Also, I thought the wings did a very professional job of no retaliation once they were up by 5 goals.. They went about their professional business and won the game without head hunting anyone.

6-07-2009 @ 7:44PM

Puck said...

Hey! Let's get this shutout after a shellacking energy out of the air. I'm looking for the Wings to rise to the challenge of continuing their exquisite play in a hostile environment. I think the return of Datsyuk's superb skill, with his motivation of sitting out so many playoff games, and the effect he's having on his teammates, will prove to much for the Penguins. I do think we're in for one or two fantastic periods before the Pens leave the ice in a LeBrawnee like temper tantrum. Let's Go Red Wings!

6-07-2009 @ 8:23PM

katuna said...

Everyone has a bad game from time to time, it's just a lot more noticeable when it happens in game 5 of the SC finals. I'm sure Fleury will bounce back in game 6. I just gotta say though, the bad sportsmanship the Pens exhibited at the end of all the games on the road is a little disturbing. As rough a sport as hockey is, there's always been a certain code of ethics that players have lived by over the years that seems to be missing. It all revolves around the maturity level of the leader. I think if his maturity matched his skills, Crosby would be unstoppable, but right now it doesn't. Give him time, we were all kids once, right?

6-09-2009 @ 9:35AM

redbeacon51 said...

Crosby being hurt isn't an excuse, if it was the wings would have plenty to use but yet they're still winning the series. They have skill, poise, and class, maybe Crosby wants some lessons. Anyway, I didn't follow too hurtmuch hockey over the season but I was shocked when I found out that Crosby is the captain. He really doesn't seem like anything like captain material but then again in detriot we are used to one of the best captians ever. Red Wings will win, its just a matter of "when" not "if"