LAS VEGAS (AP) 鈥� Hockey fans in Southern Nevada still love Marc-Andre Fleury.
The adoration overflowed Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena when the 18-year veteran led the Chicago Blackhawks onto the ice for their game against his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights.
Fans lined the end boards, pounded the glass, held up signs, and cheered for the man who was the face of the Golden Knights for their first four years in the league.
The sold-out crowd then erupted into a frenzy when a was played just before puck drop.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to play there,鈥� Fleury told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 鈥淥bviously, it鈥檚 good when you鈥檙e the home team. It鈥檚 one of the best buildings with the best atmosphere in the league. It鈥檚 fun to have another chance to play there, and see the guys, see the fans, see the staff 鈥� it鈥檒l be nice.鈥�
Fleury instantaneously became the face of the franchise and a fan favorite, long before he led the expansion club to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season.
His dazzling smile, intoxicating personality, and involvement throughout Southern Nevada helped stitch himself into the city鈥檚 athletic fabric alongside the likes of Jerry Tarkanian, Greg Maddux and Andre Agassi.
Last season, Fleury went 26-10-0 with a 1.98 goals-against average, .928 save-percentage and six shutouts in 36 starts and won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL鈥檚 top goaltender.
But with the Golden Knights committed to Robin Lehner long-term and desperate for salary cap space, Fleury was traded to Chicago on July 27 for Mikael Hakkarainen, a forward prospect they released Aug. 19.
Saturday was the first time he faced them.
鈥淚 think it helps that I鈥檝e been through it; I think it鈥檚 a little bit of the same anticipation,鈥� said Fleury, 37, who became the third goaltender in NHL history to win 500 games in December. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tough. When I went back to Pittsburgh I was a little emotional about things, having thoughts and good memories about things and my teammates and stuff like that. I think maybe I鈥檒l try to be more 鈥� just try to play hockey.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard though because I feel like you don鈥檛 want to get (sidetracked) and get emotional, but then at the same time, it is. It was a great time in my life and I have great memories and made some great friends.鈥�
Vegas captain Mark Stone said he knows what Fleury would be feeling, as he shared thoughts from his first visit to Ottawa on Jan. 16, 2020, after spending the first 6 1/2 seasons of his career with the Senators.
鈥淚t鈥檚 obviously an emotional time when you pour your heart and soul into a city and a team and you go back there for the first time; I鈥檓 sure there鈥檚 going to be nervous energy,鈥� Stone said after Saturday鈥檚 morning skate. 鈥淚 just remember being excited getting to play in front of the fans that I got to play in front of for how many years I was there. I鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 gonna feel a lot of that same energy.鈥�
Fleury鈥檚 visit brings an end to an emotional week in Las Vegas, as it started Sunday with former Golden Knights Nate Schmidt and Paul Stastny visiting with Winnipeg. Thursday night it was the team鈥檚 first coach Gerard Gallant and fan favorite Ryan Reaves returning with the Rangers.
鈥淲hat those guys did in year one here will ever be replicated and they deserve all the love and attention they鈥檙e gonna get for that,鈥� Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said.
DeBoer, who coached plenty of games against Fleury during stints with Florida, New Jersey and San Jose, said he was glad he got to spend time on the same bench with the three-time Stanley Cup winner.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a ton of good memories and anytime you coach a Hall of Famer it鈥檚 always an honor,鈥� DeBoer added. 鈥淎s a coach, those are the players you鈥檒l tell your grandkids that you had an opportunity to coach. And Flower鈥檚 on that list.鈥�
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W.g. Ramirez, The Associated Press
