Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-André Fleury moved into sole possession of 2nd place on the NHL’s all-time wins list on Sunday night, passing legendary goaltender Patrick Roy with his 552nd career victory. The Wild rode Fleury’s stellar 34-save shutout performance to a 5-0 blanking of the New York Islanders.
Fleury Shuts the Door in Minnesota’s Big Win
Fleury was solid all night long for Minnesota, turning aside all 34 Islanders shots he faced. His best saves came in the second period, when he robbed Casey Cizikas on a breakaway chance and then flashed the glove to snag a dangerous one-timer off the stick of Mathew Barzal.
The Wild offense provided plenty of goal support, chasing Islanders starter Ilya Sorokin from the game with 4 goals against on just 16 shots. Mats Zuccarello had 1G/2A to lead the way offensively, with Marcus Foligno, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brandon Duhaime and Connor Dewar also finding the back of the net.
With the win, Fleury now has 552 for his career, moving him past childhood idol Patrick Roy’s mark of 551. After the game, an emotional Fleury said:
“It means a lot. I never thought I’d get to this number. I remember watching Patrick as a kid in the playoffs making all those saves. I’m really fortunate to have played with some great teams and teammates.”
Where Fleury Ranks All-Time
With 552 wins under his belt, Fleury now trails only Martin Brodeur (691) for the most in NHL history for a goaltender.
All-Time NHL Wins by a Goaltender:
| Rank | Player | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Brodeur | 691 |
| 2 | Marc-Andre Fleury | 552 |
| 3 | Patrick Roy | 551 |
Fleury is also rising up the all-time list for NHL games played by a goalie. His 987 career games put him in 5th place behind Brodeur, Roy, Ed Belfour and Roberto Luongo.
Fleury’s Winding Path to History
Now age 39, Fleury has taken a winding path to 2nd all-time in NHL goaltending wins. He was drafted 1st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003, helping them to Stanley Cup wins in 2009, 2016 and 2017. After being supplanted as Pittsburgh’s starter by Matt Murray, Fleury was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 expansion draft. He promptly led Vegas on a Cinderella run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.
Fleury played 4 seasons as the Golden Knights starter before a trade to Chicago and eventually signing as a free agent with Minnesota this past offseason. His legendary career has now brought him to the doorstep of history, needing just 139 more wins to surpass Brodeur for 1st all-time.
Praise for Fleury’s Remarkable Career
Fleury’s milestone victory sparked reactions praising his consistency and longevity from across the hockey world.
“What an accomplishment. To be second all-time speaks to the testament of Marc as an elite goaltender.” – Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin
“Fleury has been so steady for so long. He’s one of those generational talents in net.” – Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy
“It’s incredible to see – 552 wins and counting. The guy keeps chugging along racking up W’s.” – Nashville Predators G Juuse Saros
With his play still at an extremely high level in his 19th NHL season, Fleury appears poised to keep adding to his legendary win total over the next few campaigns. While he likely won’t break Brodeur’s imposing all-time mark, 2nd place all-time cements Fleury’s legacy as one of the greatest goaltenders to ever play the game. If he maintains his current pace, he could approach the 600-win threshold before hanging up the skates.
Looking Ahead – The Road to 600?
Now 14 wins away from surpassing Roy’s 551, Fleury continues his ascent up the NHL record books. At his current pace, he is tracking to finish the 2023-24 season with approximately 570 wins.
If Fleury plays another season beyond this one, a run at 600 career victories is not out of the question. To make it to 600, he would need to average nearly 30 wins a season over the next 2 years.
While challenging, it’s also not unrealistic given Minnesota’s strong roster and Fleury’s sustained elite production in net even late into his 30’s. He continues to rewrite the record books in his 19th NHL campaign.
Fleury to be Honored by Wild
The Minnesota Wild plan to host a special “Flower Night” ceremony on February 9th versus Fleury’s former Penguins team to honor his career accomplishments. It shapes up as an emotional return for Fleury, who offered this preview:
“I’m sure there will be a lot of memories. Pittsburgh means so much to me and gave me my start in the NHL. The fans there have always treated me so well.”
If his 552nd win is any indication, the nights ahead promise more history and memories for one of hockey’s all-time greats in Marc-Andre Fleury.
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