Merci, Marc-Andre Fleury!
This is the final game of Marc-Andre Fleury’s hockey hall of fame career. First overall selection of 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Three time Stanley Cup winner, Gold medalist, Veznia winner, Jennings winner, and All Star. Highlight save in the final seconds of Game 7. Back-to-back visits and victories to two different cities. Expansion claim and traded for cap reasons for next to nothing. Uprooting and retiring in Minnesota, to have one last appearance where it all started with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kristopher Letang.
Columbus and Pittsburgh faced off on Wednesday night, resulting in a 4-1 win over the Penguins at Nationwide Arena. Zach Gallant had the lone tally for Pitt. Yegor Chinakov, Jake Christiansen, Kent Johnson, and Dante Fabbro had the four Blue Jackets goals.
Projected Lineups
Pittsburgh Penguins
FORWARDS
11 – Filip Hallander
14 – Boko Imama
16 – Justin Brazeau
17 – Bryan Rust
26 – Tristan Broz
39 – Anthony Mantha
41 – Ville Koivunen
49 – Rafael Harvey-Pinard
67 – Rickard Rakell
71 – Evgeni Malkin
81 – Ben Kindel
85 – Avery Hayes
87 – Sidney Crosby
DEFENSE
28 – Parker Wotherspoon
38 – Owen Pickering
45 – Harrison Brunicke
50 – Finn Harding
58 – Kris Letang
65 – Erik Karlsson
82 – Caleb Jones
GOALIES
1 – Sergei Murashov
29 – Marc-Andre Fleury
Columbus Blue Jackets
Forwards
4 Cole Sillinger | 16 Brendan Gaunce | 20 Hudson Fasching |
24 Mathieu Olivier | 29 Jack Williams | 53 Luca Pinelli |
59 Yegor Chinakhov | 65 Luca Del Bel Belluz | 67 James Malatesta |
82 Mikael Pyyhtia | 83 Oiva Keskinen | 93 Max McCue |
Defensemen
2 Jake Christiansen | 7 Brendan Smith | 14 Daemon Hunt |
44 Erik Gudbranson | 74 Corson Ceulemans | 81 Stanislav Svozil |
Goaltenders
31 Nolan Lalonde | 90 Elvis Merzlikins |
Players to Watch
Pittsburgh — Marc-Andre Fleury — most recent first round pick looking to prove himself.
Columbus — James Malatesta — the young scrappy and hungry forward is still looking to be in the main roster.
Predicted Final Score
PIT — 6
CBJ — 2