Le Fleur and his 400 blooming flowers in his ever expanding garden. Sure, he is the
13th goalie in NHL history to attain 400 victories, second fastest in 728 games(Henrik
Lundqvist in 727 contests), three Stanley Cups, a lifetime 2,56 GAA, .913 SV%, and is
currently at 2,15\.930 in the current season. ""The Flower'' rolls on like the Shanghai
Metro.
If you want to know what makes the 33 year old goaltender tick, just take a gander
at the backplate of his fleur-de-lis festooned mask worn on gameday. You will find the following letters initialed there: EFGT. It isn't a clever hideout for a bank PIN, but it is
his way of honnoring his grandparents. Fleury is well grounded from his upbringing in
the metallurgical town(42,000) of Sorel(f1642), Quebec. A scant 75 km from Montreal.
How foundational is his hometown? Well, it has the honor of presenting the first public Christmas tree(1761) in North America.....basic, down-to-eath, solid-all the characteristics
that helped forge Fleury's calm and composed approach to the art and science of effective goaltending.
He has a playful side as well, and is well-known as an inveterate practical joker, a
quick to smile countenance and the nervousness that is commanded by the appropriate
situation-like February 8, 2018 on the occasion of his return to Pittsburgh to be honored
by the Penguins. He admitted to having ''goosebumps'' during the warmup period. ''It's a
night I won't forget. Except maybe the the score.''(He gave up 5 goals on 38 shots).
His life is full and bountiful in his initial season with the Golden Knights. He married
his longtime sweetheart, Veronique, with whom he had dated since they were 15 years
old, and enjoys the company of his two daughters 4 year old Estelle and 2 year old
Scarlett.
The next time the Golden Knights play the New York Islanders you may see MAF
chatting with a young forward who plays for the Isles-Anthony Beauvillier. Yeah, full
circle, baby, the veteran connecting up with his younger hometown counterpart. He probably sees a bit of himself in the new kid from Sorel.
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