No Fleury = No Cup

 The Pens decided to rest Marc-Andre Fleury against the Ottawa Senators Saturday night. Brad Theissen started in place of Fleury. Unfortunately for the Penguins and Theissen the results were a nightmare. Theissen got lit up big time for eight goals on just 28 shots. Just awful.

Of course the Pens defense didn't play well either but the myth that Fleury only wins because of the team in front of him is moronic at this point. Fleury is an elite goaltender in the NHL and is the most important player on the Penguins roster.

Yes Evgeni Malkin is on his way to winning his second Art Ross trophy and the Penguin's captain Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup, but the Pens made the playoffs without either one of them last season. (Crosby and Malkin both missed the second half of the season last year).

Fleury was the team MVP last year, helping a depleted Penguins team make the playoffs without its two best players and came just one game short making it to the second round of the playoffs. This year Fleury became the first goalie to win 40 games and is in the top ten in Goals Against Average.

Fleury concomitantly saves 3-4 for sure goals a game, making those "wow, how did he just do that?" type saves in the process. No offense to Theissen, who is still getting adjusted to being a NHL goaltender, but Fleury doesn't give up eight goals against Ottawa. Not even sure if Ottawa scores four against him.

Fact is Fleury is the key to the Pens' chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year. Of course, Malkin and Crosby will be factors, but Fleury is the key. Goaltending and good defense wins championships. The Penguins won game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals in 08-09 by the score of 2-1 with Fleury making save after save in that game. If they want to raise another banner in the Consol Energy Center Fleury will have to be healthy and play well.

Penguins are 6-8-2 on the season without Fleury in net. Last year Fleury was the team MVP guiding to the Pens to the playoffs despite the team being crushed with injuries, including season ending injuries to Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Fleury is by far one of the best goalies in the league and he's the one player this team can't afford to lose in the playoffs. No Fleury = no cup