Fleury’s Milestone Night Marred by Early Gaffe, Wild Triumph Over Oilers #

Marc-Andre Fleury made his 1,000th career start, surpassing childhood idol Patrick Roy for the third-most games for a goalie in NHL history. However, his milestone evening began in a less than ideal fashion, allowing a bizarre goal from Leon Draisaitl just 27 seconds into the game at Rogers Place. The puck rolled 134 feet, bouncing in an unexpected manner past Fleury.

Despite the early setback, Fleury demonstrated resilience, making 28 saves and leading his team to a 5-3 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The Wild supported Fleury after the fluky goal early in the game, reassuring him and maintaining composure. This win was part of the Wild’s impressive season, where they are noted for earning the second-most points in the league.

Fleury’s character shone through as he entertained fans with a playful celebration after a routine save, which relaxed and uplifted his teammates. Originating from a tough start, the Wild showed exceptional resilience, overcoming two overturned goals—one due to an offside play, the other from a quick referee whistle.

Freddy Gaudreau starred alongside Fleury, scoring two goals and providing an assist. Foligno contributed with a goal and assist, while Marcus Johansson scored one of the team’s three second-period goals. A late second-period scare involving Kirill Kaprizov getting kneed added drama, but he returned, confirming he was fine.

Standing at 13-3-3, the Wild overcame the Oilers’ roster gaps and advanced their standing as the best road team in the NHL. Fleury expressed his feelings of pressure due to limited playtime this season. Despite Filip Gustavsson having the best stats in the league, Fleury remains committed to improving his game for when called upon.

Coach John Hynes commended the Wild’s growing mental maturity and ability to handle adverse situations during games. The camaraderie among players was palpable, rallying around Fleury and celebrating his significant milestone without allowing an early mistake to define the night.

The game underscored the Wild’s adaptive playstyle—leveraging a solid defensive system while maintaining an offensive edge, exemplified by overcoming adversity throughout the match with disciplined play and key contributions from multiple team members.