Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has been selected to participate in his third consecutive NHL All-Star Game.
Fleury was named one of the two goaltenders selected for the Pacific Division who will take part in the weekend, happening in St. Louis on Jan. 24-25. Arizona’s Darcy Kuemper was the other netminder added to the squad.
This is Fleury’s fifth time overall and third straight appearance in the All-Star Game since he was selected in the expansion draft from the Golden Knights in 2017.
“Obviously it’s an honor,” Fleury said Monday. “A lot of fun the past few years that I’ve been, so it’s cool.”
Each of Fleury’s five All-Star nods have come this decade. He took part in the 2011 and 2015 game as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fleury has had an up-and-down season as far as numbers go; his .912 save percentage is his lowest in the past three seasons, and his 2.74 goals-against average is .23 higher than what he finished with a year ago. He has racked up the wins though, going 15-8-3 in 26 starts. His latest was on Saturday, a 4-1 victory against the Arizona Coyotes, which was his 454th win in the NHL.
That tied Curtis Joseph for sixth on the NHL’s all-time wins list for goalies. He will get a chance to surpass that mark Tuesday when he starts against the Anaheim Ducks.
“I’m very fortunate to play for this team, this organization,” Fleury said. “It’s fun to go see the other guys around the league and try to do well for the Knights, try to represent the right way.”
The Pacific Division is going a very unnatural route in its roster; as of now, seven forwards, two goalies and one defenseman. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames holds that distinction.
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty and Vancouver Canucks rookie Quinn Hughes are the lone blueliners up for the NHL’s Last Men In vote. Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty, the team’s leader in points (40) is also up for the vote, as well. Voting begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
“No surprise from me. He’s been great all three years here,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “Good for him. Real happy for him.”
Gallant could also be participating in All-Star Weekend, should the Golden Knights maintain their hold on first place in the Pacific Division. The coaches are selected by the team who has the highest points percentage (points earned divided by total possible points).
Gallant would be the Pacific Division’s coach for the second time in three seasons if the All-Star break start today.
“I want our team to be in first place,” Gallant said. “If that happens, great. Obviously, we want to be in first place. I’ve been to a couple, have been fortunate to go there, and they’re a lot of fun. We’ll see what happens.”
Pacific Division roster
Jakob Silfverberg – F, Anaheim Ducks (1st appearance)
Darcy Kuemper – G, Arizona Coyotes (1st appearance)
Matthew Tkachuk – F, Calgary Flames (1st appearance)
Mark Giordano – D, Calgary Flames (3rd appearance)
Connor McDavid – F, Edmonton Oilers (4th appearance, voted captain)
Leon Draisaitl – F, Edmonton Oilers (2nd appearance)
Anze Kopitar – F, Los Angeles Kings (5th appearance)
Logan Couture – F, San Jose Sharks (2nd appearance)
Elias Pettersson – F, Vancouver Canucks (2nd appearance)
Marc-Andre Fleury – G, Vegas Golden Knights (5th appearance)