Marc-Andre Fleury’s long-awaited return to Pittsburgh did not disappoint.
There’s a 🌸 in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/bm5YOlGWBH
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 7, 2018
Marking the Vegas Golden Knights’ first trip to PPG Paints Arena also served as the return of Fleury to the city where he played the first 13 seasons of his NHL career. That tenure resulted in 375 wins with the Penguins and three Stanley Cup championships.
Fleury was selected by the Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft and is the starting netminder for the best team in the Western Conference.
Twitter, as always, is undefeated and provided some great reaction to Fleury’s return to the Pittsburgh ice.
It started Tuesday morning when the Penguins gifted Fleury with his third championship ring.
Earlier this morning, Marc-Andre Fleury received his 2017 Stanley Cup ring from Mario Lemieux. Congratulations Flower. Well deserved.🌸 pic.twitter.com/bAM4mQ7Cpi
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 6, 2018
Then, Fleury took the ice in Pittsburgh for the first time as a visiting goaltender.
🐐
the man of the hour returns to a ROUSING ovation
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 6, 2018
the crowd has started chanting Fleury’s name👇 pic.twitter.com/3X7CJocYdp
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 7, 2018
massive standing ovation and the crowd is again chanting Fleury’s name 😢 pic.twitter.com/MyFzyqcA95
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 7, 2018
Thank you for everything, Fleury. pic.twitter.com/P5XAAwn62t
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 7, 2018
The people of Pittsburgh still miss Fleury. So much so, this woman has a tattoo of Fleury on her arm, courtesy from Steph Chambers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Brittany Leshen of Millvale shows off her Marc-Andre Fleury tattoo before his return against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, at PPG Paints Arena. (Steph Chambers/Post-Gazette) pic.twitter.com/r3REj3GkQv
— Steph A Chambers (@StephChambers76) February 7, 2018
The Penguins honored Fleury with an awesome video tribute after the first media timeout, and knowing the guy Flower is, he was visibly emotional:
an emotional marc-andre fleury wipes away tears after watching his tribute video pic.twitter.com/y99XfZ6Ulo
— ego (@EvgeniMaIkinEgo) February 7, 2018
Or … was it really water?
So nobody will be able to tell if it’s tears or water. pic.twitter.com/N4ez6pW4Fd
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 7, 2018
What an amazing night! Fleury and Fifty in the house!! #LetsGoPens I 💛My City! #Pittsburgh! pic.twitter.com/OuKNpoc3dU
— John Rehak Jr (@KingKaher) February 7, 2018
waiting for someone to love me like Pittsburgh loves Fleury
— Bailee Grunstra (@Bailee_Grunstra) February 7, 2018
The signs were also out in full force:
Got another banner made since we gave Fleury the original. @PensKnittngLady pic.twitter.com/r6UgKsIsbz
— PAYD for by Marc-Andre Fleury (@PensRyourDaddy) February 7, 2018
The Golden Knights were basically gifted Fleury during the expansion draft. Vegas fans love Fleury, and the extension of Pittsburgh’s emotions is a clear indicator why.