How far will the Penguins go in the Stanley Cup playoffs?

Ask Marc-Andre Fleury.

It's up to him — and a little help from the hockey gods.

All one has to do is look at some Butler County high school programs to realize that.

Mars goaltender Tyler Stepke came up big in the Penguins Cup and Class A state championship games, helping the Planets to secure both titles.

Seneca Valley goaltender Ryan Schutte played as well — if not a little better — in the Class AAA Penguins Cup playoffs.

Schutte had allowed only two total goals in three playoff games before losing sight of a puck that rolled past him and into the net with 18 seconds left in the Penguins Cup championship game.

The Raiders were eliminated less than two minutes into overtime when an attempted pass from the corner deflected off a skate, hit the goalpost and caromed into the net.

Two bad breaks, no fault of the goaltender, and Seneca Valley's season was over.

Yes, the hockey gods need to be on your side.

At the conclusion of Games 6 and 7 of last year's Stanley Cup Final, Fleury was under siege by a Detroit team hungry to pull even in both games.

He kept the puck out of the net, making a couple of saves on shots he didn't even see but that happened to hit him.

Any goalie will tell you he needs a little luck every now and then.

The double play is a pitcher's best friend. The goalposts and crossbar are a goalie's best friends.

There's no question Evgeni Malkin needs to be healthy to strengthen the Penguins' chances of keeping the Cup.

Their defense needs to tighten up — there's no question about that, either.

But if Fleury isn't on top of his game, none of the above will matter.

Try naming a Stanley Cup championship team that didn't receive stellar goaltending during its run to glory. That team doesn't exist.

Chris Osgood might only be a better-than-average NHL goalie, but when the Red Wings won the Cup, he was tremendous in the playoffs.

Glenn Resch with the Islanders, Grant Fuhr with Edmonton, Ken Dryden with the Canadiens — the list of such performers is lengthy.

Clutch goaltending and Stanley Cup championship teams are a matched set.

Fleury has struggled at times this season. He's been pulled from games eight times because of it.

If the Penguins fail to repeat, all fingers will be pointed in his direction. If the Penguins do repeat, Fleury might not receive the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Such is life for the guy manning the nets.

He's the last line of defense.

After winning the state title, Stepke said that's what he loves about the position: The role of being the stopper.

So does Schutte.

But life between the pipes isn't always fair.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.