Marc-Andre Fleury added a remarkable chapter to his legendary career during Game 5 of the Minnesota Wild’s first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Although the Wild fell in overtime, the game held historical significance. Fleury entered the game at the start of the third period, replacing Filip Gustavsson, who exited due to illness. With that appearance, Fleury officially played in his 18th Stanley Cup Playoffs, surpassing Hall of Famer Patrick Roy for the most playoff seasons by a goalie in NHL history.
Now 40 years old and in the final year of his storied career, Fleury has only missed the postseason three times over his 21 NHL seasons. He is one of just four goaltenders in league history to play over 1,000 games, ranks second all-time in wins, and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. His Hall of Fame résumé continues to grow.
Fleury’s incredible playoff consistency began with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006–07, sparking a streak of 17 consecutive postseason appearances. After joining the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, he continued to backstop his teams into the playoffs. Even as a backup with the Wild since 2021, he made postseason appearances in back-to-back years.
Although he did not appear in the 2023–24 playoffs until this emergency relief stint, Fleury’s brief return was enough to keep his playoff legacy alive. In 24 minutes of play, he faced seven shots, surrendering just one goal—the game-winner in overtime by Brett Howden.
With the Wild now on the brink of elimination, questions loom about whether Game 5 might have been Fleury’s final NHL appearance. Regardless, his place in hockey history is firmly cemented.
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