Marc-Andre Fleury, nicknamed “The Flower”, is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and went on to win three Stanley Cup championships with the team in 2009, 2016, and 2017.
Quick Answer
Marc-Andre Fleury has played in 5 Stanley Cup Finals over the course of his NHL career so far.
Fleury’s First Stanley Cup Final Appearance
Fleury made his first appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins finished the regular season with 47 wins and 102 points, second in the Atlantic Division behind the Montreal Canadiens. In the first round of the playoffs, Pittsburgh defeated the Ottawa Senators in four games. Next, they met the New York Rangers in the semifinals and won that series in five games to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
There, the Penguins faced the Philadelphia Flyers and dispatched their in-state rivals in five games to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit had the best record in the league during the regular season and was the defending Stanley Cup champion from 2007. The Red Wings presented a formidable challenge for the young Penguins squad led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
The 2008 Finals went six games, with Detroit taking the series 4-2 over Pittsburgh. Fleury started all six games for the Penguins in his first Finals appearance and recorded a .908 save percentage. Despite the disappointment of coming up short, the experience of reaching the championship round ignited a fire within Fleury and the core group of Penguins players.
Back-to-Back Stanley Cup Wins
Just one year later in 2009, Fleury backstopped the Penguins to a rematch with the Red Wings in the Finals. This time, Pittsburgh emerged victorious in seven games to capture the franchise’s third Stanley Cup championship and first since 1992. Fleury posted a stellar .908 save percentage over the course of the 24 playoff games. He made a critical last-second save on Nicklas Lidstrom in Game 7 to preserve the 2-1 victory and seal the Cup win.
In 2016, seven years after their first title together, Fleury and the Penguins reached the summit again. After finishing second in the Metropolitan Division, the Penguins knocked off the Rangers, Capitals, and Lightning en route to a Finals showdown with the San Jose Sharks. The series went the distance, with Pittsburgh taking Game 6 by a score of 3-1 to clinch their fourth Stanley Cup.
Fleury posted sterling numbers during the 2016 playoff run. Through 23 games, he racked up 15 wins, a .924 save percentage, and 2.54 goals against average. His steady play in net provided the foundation for the Penguins’ high-powered offense to ultimately overwhelm opponents in the postseason.
Fleury’s Quest for a Three-Peat
In 2017, Pittsburgh and Fleury had the opportunity to accomplish a rare three-peat. The Penguins once again finished second in their division during the regular season with a record of 50-21-11. After beating Columbus and Washington in the first two rounds, they met the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Finals. Following a double-overtime victory in Game 7, Pittsburgh moved on to challenge the Nashville Predators in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Through the first two rounds, Fleury was the clear-cut number one goaltender for the Penguins. However, he was replaced by Matt Murray during the Ottawa series due to poor play. Murray ended up starting throughout the remainder of the playoff run, including the Finals against Nashville. Fleury did not play in any games during the championship series, but he remained a key member of the team and provided invaluable leadership and guidance to Murray.
With Murray in net, the Penguins defeated the Predators in six games to become the first team in nearly two decades to win consecutive Cups. Despite not seeing the ice during the Finals, Fleury was instrumental in the early playoff rounds and had his name etched on the Cup for the third time.
Fleury’s Final Appearance with the Penguins
In 2018, Fleury backstopped the Penguins through two playoff rounds before they ultimately fell in the second round to the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh finished second in the Metropolitan Division and drew the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round. Fleury was stellar in net, posting a 0.930 save percentage as the Penguins eliminated their rivals in six games.
In the second round, Pittsburgh went up against Washington in a highly anticipated matchup between Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The Penguins had eliminated the Capitals in the second round in each of the previous two seasons, but this time Washington finally got over the hump. The Capitals won the hard-fought series in six games, ending Fleury and the Penguins’ chances of winning four Stanley Cups in a row.
These 2018 playoffs represented the end of an era, as Fleury was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft following the Penguins’ most recent Cup win. Despite not reaching the Finals, Fleury left Pittsburgh as a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a beloved member of the team and community.
Fleury’s First Season in Las Vegas
Following the expansion draft, Fleury headed west to join the NHL’s newest team, the Vegas Golden Knights, for their inaugural 2017-18 season. The Golden Knights defied all expectations and finished first in the Pacific Division with a 51-24-7 record. Fleury was a driving force behind their success, recording 29 wins, a .927 save percentage, and career-best 2.24 goals against average.
Behind Fleury’s stellar play, the Golden Knights blitzed through the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks to reach the Western Conference Finals in their very first season. There they met the Winnipeg Jets, who pushed Vegas to the limit. The series went five games, with the Golden Knights triumphing to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Washington Capitals.
Facing the Caps in the Finals, Fleury and Vegas ultimately came up three wins short of capturing the Cup. Washington won the series 4-1 to secure their first championship in franchise history. Despite the defeat, Fleury delivered a superhuman effort, facing an average of 34 shots per game and posting a .967 save percentage over the first three contests.
In just their inaugural campaign, Fleury and the Golden Knights gave their fans a magical run all the way to the Finals. Although they lost to the Capitals, the experience gained proved invaluable for the young expansion franchise.
Return to the Stanley Cup Finals
Three years later in the 2020-21 season, Fleury backstopped Vegas to another appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Golden Knights once again finished first in the West Division with a record of 40-14-2, led by Fleury’s 26 wins and 6 shutouts. After beating Minnesota and Colorado in the first two rounds, Vegas faced the Montreal Canadiens for the championship.
The Canadiens, led by stellar goaltending from Carey Price, proved to be a tough out for the Golden Knights. Montreal took the closely contested series in six games, limiting Fleury and the powerful Vegas offense. Fleury’s numbers dipped compared to his regular season stats, but he gave his team a fighting chance with several outstanding performances.
Despite the early exit, Fleury showed he still had the ability to lead a team on a deep playoff run at 36 years old. His extensive postseason experience and hunger for another Stanley Cup kept the Golden Knights among the top contenders in the Western Conference heading into the following season.
Fleury’s Playoff Performances by Season
| Season | Team | Playoff Games Played | Record | Save % | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 20 | 14-6 | .933 | 1.97 |
| 2008-09 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 24 | 16-8 | .908 | 2.61 |
| 2010-11 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 7 | 3-4 | .899 | 2.52 |
| 2012-13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 5 | 2-3 | .891 | 3.52 |
| 2013-14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 13 | 9-4 | .915 | 2.40 |
| 2015-16 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 23 | 15-8 | .924 | 2.54 |
| 2016-17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 15 | 9-6 | .924 | 2.56 |
| 2017-18 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 12 | 9-3 | .930 | 2.24 |
| 2018-19 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 4-3 | .906 | 1.99 |
| 2019-20 | Vegas Golden Knights | 16 | 9-7 | .905 | 1.99 |
| 2020-21 | Vegas Golden Knights | 19 | 10-9 | .913 | 2.04 |
As shown in the table above, Fleury has appeared in a total of 5 Stanley Cup Finals over his career – in 2008 and 2009 with Pittsburgh, and in 2018, 2020, and 2021 with Vegas. His individual stats in those championship series are certainly impressive and indicative of his ability to raise his game under the highest pressure.
In 2008, despite the Penguins falling short to Detroit, Fleury posted a solid .908 save percentage over 6 games. When Pittsburgh lifted the Cup the very next year against the same Red Wings team, he upped his save percentage to .908 over 7 games. Then in his next 3 Finals appearances with Vegas, Fleury maintained a save percentage at .906 or better each time.
Considering the small margin of error and intensity of playoff hockey, Fleury’s consistency in net during the Finals speaks to his invaluable big-game experience. Even though he came out on the losing end in 3 of the 5 championship series, he always gave his team a good shot at victory.
Fleury’s Lasting Playoff Legacy
With 5 Stanley Cup Final appearances over a 16 year career, Marc-Andre Fleury has etched his name in the record books as one of the NHL’s greatest playoff goaltenders. He ranks 3rd all-time in playoff wins with 90, trailing only Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur. In addition, his 150 career playoff games played ranks 5th in NHL history.
Beyond the impressive individual accolades, Fleury’s career will be remembered for the three Stanley Cups he captured in Pittsburgh and his integral role in the Penguins dynasty. His athletic, acrobatic style in net made him a fan favorite and embodied the spirit of the championship teams in Pittsburgh.
Fleury’s impact also extends to growing the game in new markets like Las Vegas. He provided excitement and star power for the expansion Golden Knights from day one and helped drive their meteoric success over the first five seasons.
At 37 years old, the end of Fleury’s career may be on the horizon. But with his name already etched on the Cup multiple times, he has assured his place among the greatest goaltenders in NHL playoff history.
Conclusion
In summary, Marc-Andre Fleury has suited up for the Stanley Cup Finals five times over his illustrious NHL career. He backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to championships in 2009, 2016, and 2017, compiling over 90 playoff wins and 150 games played in a Pittsburgh uniform. Fleury also led the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to the Finals in their inaugural season in 2018 and again in 2021, cementing his legacy as a big-game goalie. With three Stanley Cup titles and a distinct playoff persona characterized by timely saves in acrobatic fashion, Fleury has proven himself to be a lifelong contributor of playoff success everywhere he has played.
