“It’s crazy how many people have written to me about my fight with Jordan Binnington. And there wasn’t even a fight. »
Marc-André Fleury is not like a Billy Smith or a Ron Hextall. But for one evening he walked the ice at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis before dropping his mask and throwing on his glove and blocker. He had a clear goal: to invite Binnington to a rare waltz between two watches. A waltz that never happened. But this scene captured the imagination and went around the hockey world.
Fleury, who has always been described as a good teammate, lived up to his reputation. He wanted to defend Ryan Hartman, who had just gotten a blocker in the teeth after scoring his fifth goal. Binnington was also suspended for two games for his dangerous jab at the Wild winger.
Leaving Wild training two days after that 8-5 win over the Blues, Fleury spoke about the event in an interview with Le Journal.
“I kinda had it in my head”
“I wouldn’t say I’m going to help anyone,” said the 38-year-old goalkeeper. But it looks like I kind of had it in mind. As I watched him leap into the fray, I could see what was to come. Hartman snapped a bit after his goal and Binnington didn’t like it. I thought he was my husband. I didn’t want the blues to stay six against five. He was my man in the fight! »
“I don’t know Binnington personally. I knew he had a hot temper. He has proven that over the past few years. I have nothing against him. As a goalkeeper, it is difficult to become an enemy with the other goalkeeper. I just didn’t like it when he hit my player with his blocker. I thought it was time for me to go. »
featherweights
Fleury doesn’t hide it. He would have liked to have escaped the clutches of the referees. However, Justin Johnson, one of the two linesmen, did his job by circling him to prevent him from rushing Binnington.
“Yes, I would have liked that,” Fleury admitted. If there’s a fight between two goalies in the American League, ECHL or juniors, I like to watch it. It’s exciting and rare. It also gets funny when it comes to the equipment for the goalkeepers. »
“When the Binnington incident happened, we sensed a tremendous commotion in the crowd. There was energy. It was still cool. »
“Hartman was proud of my reaction. But I would mainly say that the guys laughed a lot after the second period. I was teased by the boys. They would have liked to have seen a fight between the two Guardians due to the rarity. »
he trusted
With 543 NHL wins, the number 29 ranks third in history. When asked if he would have won his first fight, he thinks for two seconds before making a prediction.
“Yes, I was confident. We were talking about a featherweight fight but it could be fun as we’re both lighter. With two little ones there might have been more energy and speed. Binnington was a guy my weight, he wasn’t a Robin Lehner or a 6’7, 240lb guard. »
If a fight between two guards is more folklore than reality, Fleury wasn’t his first incident this season.
“There is a game [31 décembre] again against the blues, where Binnington had shaken his hand to invite me. And in San Jose [11 mars], I experienced a different story. I got a smack from an attacker and fired back some. James Reimer started to come forward and he also shook his glove to invite me in. In my head I thought I’d already broken a junior’s ankle in a fight. I didn’t think it was the right time to fight a month before the playoffs. But when it happened against the Blues for the third time, I thought enough is enough! »
A fracture in junior
During his years with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Fleury had twice fought another goaltender (Adam Russo and Kevin Lachance).
In his second experience he had suffered a fractured ankle.
His microphone picked up everything
Marc-André Fleury wore a microphone at that famous game against the St. Louis Blues and Jordan Binnington. The Wild posted a video on social media that has been viewed more than 400,000 times. We see there, but most importantly we hear Fleury challenging Binnington to a fight and then trying to convince the linesman to break his grip on him. “There’s a show, Becoming Wild. It’s a behind-the-scenes show for the team, Fleury explained. You can follow a player in the summer, off the ice, or in their routine for a game. It was my turn. I had been followed since morning. The team follows me all day. In the heat of the moment I didn’t think about my microphone. When I saw the scene again, I was relieved to see that there were no swear words! I found that pretty funny. »
Fleury would not eliminate the fights
Marc-André Fleury does not like the proposal to ban fights in the QMJHL
Like many QMJHL veterans, Marc-André Fleury sides with the skeptics of the proposal to ban circuit fights, which we must now christen Mario Cecchini.
When asked for his opinion on the subject, Fleury gave a direct but also nuanced answer.
“I would not eliminate fights. I’m not saying this because of my fake fight with Binnington. I didn’t like it when I was playing juniors or when I was starting out in the NHL and there were guys that were fighting a lot. That was primarily her job. I felt it was unfair to the boys. It’s tough on the body and tough on your brain. There are risks. »
“But I have a philosophy that the presence of fights keeps players honest. There are people who pay to see Kirill Kaprizov with the Savages, one of the best players in the world. But if Kaprizov is picked up from behind and slashed anyway, he will end up hurting himself. Fans will no longer see him on the ice. If you know you can eat a cuff if you do something dangerous, think twice before you do it. It is my opinion. There is a form of policing with the mere possibility of a fight. »
double speech
“There’s also a double talk,” he continued. Hockey still uses brawls in its promotions. I don’t want it to become a player’s most important job again, but it can still happen in the heat of the game. And it’s still a very popular fight. When Ryan Reaves drops his gloves in Minnesota, viewers rise again. But Ryan doesn’t have to fight every night, he knows how to play hockey. He has a physical presence, he hits hard. »
Particularly happy with the team
Photo archive, AFP
Marc-André Fleury blocks a shot aimed at his net in a game against the Blackhawks on December 16.
Marc-André Fleury always said that victory symbolizes the most important statistic. He didn’t change his mind.
At 38 and in his first full season in Minnesota, Fleury still wears the pads of a number one. But he shares more work than before with his deputy.
“Hm, there were ups and downs,” says Sorel’s goalkeeper, describing his season with the Wilden. It was really good for some segments, but it wasn’t always the case. »
“We’re having a good season as a team. I don’t know if there are several people who predicted such a position in our department. We’re fighting for the top of our division and the Western Conference. We work hard and deserve this place. »
In 41 games this season, Fleury is 23-13-3 with a 2.83 GAA and a .908 save rate. He also had two shutouts.
A healthy togetherness
Filip Gustavsson, who traded for Cam Talbot from the Ottawa Senators in the summer, is enjoying what is by far his best season in the NHL. The 24-year-old Swede is 17-9-5 with a 2.08 GAA and a savings rate of 0.929.
“He’s super easy to work with,” Fleury remarked. He’s a good young man. It works well, it’s pretty quiet. He doesn’t talk too much, but he does come up with good little jokes. I get along well with him. I also like to talk to him between periods to come back to goals or games. He has good readings. I think it’s good to chat with him because he’s a goalkeeper from a different generation. He doesn’t have the same technique as me. »
“He’s having an incredible season. He is among the best in the NHL on average and percentage. »