Fleury returning to starting lineup
PITTSBURGH — Nearly a week after he was openly criticized and benched for two starts by Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Michel Therrien, Marc-Andre Fleury has been reinstated as the team's No. 1 goaltender.
"The last couple of games are not what I'm used to," Fleury said after practice on Monday. "I'm just looking to get back in it and start over."
Therrien was displeased with Fleury after the team's 6-5 loss to the New York Islanders on Feb. 19 and opted to start backup Jocelyn Thibault in games against the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning last week.
Thibault was stellar against the Panthers, stopping 32 of 33 shots, but allowed three goals on 15 shots before being pulled near the beginning of the second period in a 5-1 loss to the Lightning.
Fleury was touched up for two goals on nine shots in the loss to the Lightning, but that wasn't enough to keep him on the bench.
"He's our guy and I've made that statement from day one," Therrien said. "We believe in that kid and we want him to succeed ... but there's times when you need to take a step back and work and concentrate and pay attention to detail."
While Thibault was starting, Fleury spent his time working on his technique with goaltending coach Gilles Meloche.
"Sometimes I was just trying to do too much," Fleury said. "I was sliding too far and moving too much instead of just staying calm and getting hit by the puck."
After tying Anaheim for the longest streak of consecutive games with a point this season, the Penguins are 1-2-0 and have dropped into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, nine points behind first-place New Jersey in the Atlantic Division. The Penguins and Devils will play tonight at Mellon Arena.
"That was our plan, to make sure that he was going to play at home, work on different things with Gilles, and watch some video so he can bring back his 'A' game," Therrien said. "There's nothing that is wrong. I just wanted to give time to our young goalie to make sure that he's going to bounce back."
In his last five starts, Fleury is 4-1-0, but his goals-against average ballooned to 4.40. He had not allowed fewer than four goals in any of those games and his save percentage is a subpar .847.
