MONTREAL — Marc-Andre Fleury made 27 saves and earned his 500th win of his hockey career as the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 Thursday night.
As the clock reached zero, Blackhawks teammates rushed over to Fleury in celebration.
“It was really special,” Fleury said. “I really thought people in Montreal hated me after all these years of getting yelled at or booed. I never play my best games here. It’s always a rough night in Montreal.
“To finally get a win, the 500th win, with my friends and family in the arena and with the fans’ reception, it’s heartwarming. It’s great to be able to achieve this in Montreal.”
With a shutout, Fleury joined Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy as the only NHL goaltenders to reach 500 career victories. Brodeur is the all-time leader with 691, Roy stands second with 551.
“For me, Patrick and Martin are the best,” Fleury said. “That’s what’s fun about hockey, I have fun and all but the feeling of getting a win, that’s what I’m looking for. For me the 500 was important, trying to beat Patrick isn’t as important.”
Interim Blackhawks coach Derek King said he’d never heard a crowd cheer for a visiting player like the Bell Centre fans did on Thursday.
While he recognizes his bias, King said Fleury has his place among the game’s great netminders.
“Roy and Brodeur are elite obviously but I don’t get why Fleury doesn’t get [recognition],” King said. “Eventually down the road when he retires he definitely should be a Hall of Famer.
“It’s unbelievable. Whether it’s like 50 home runs or 50 goals or getting over 100 points but this, you’re not going to see this often.”