Fleury is still popular in Pittsburgh and could potentially enter the final game there with the Wild

Thirteen seasons with the Penguins had equal low points. In the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Fleury had a .891 save percentage in 13 games, which rose to .899 in 2011, fell to .834 in 2012, and rose again to .883 in 2013.

“I had some tough times,” Fleury said. “People still had my back, pushing me and helping me through the crisis.”

A sports psychologist was hired in the summer of 2013. Those playoff yips disappeared.

Fleury's 2.40 GAA and .915 save percentage in the 2014 postseason improved to 2.12 and .927 in 2015. That still wasn't enough, as the Penguins went 3-3 in the second round of the 2014 Eastern Conference. 1 series lead lost against the New York Rangers were eliminated again by the Rangers in 2015, this time in the first round.

Then Murray, a 21-year-old rookie, became the primary starter on their road to the Stanley Cup in 2016.

Fleury had a 2.29 GAA and .921 save percentage in the regular season, both his bests with Pittsburgh. However, the second of two concussions made him unavailable for the start of the playoffs, opening the door for Murray.

In 2017, the roles were reversed. Murray was injured during warmups before Game 1 of the first round. Fleury started the first two rounds, including making 29 saves in a 2-0 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 7 of the second round.

However, that ended in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Fleury allowed four goals on nine shots to the Ottawa Senators, was selected for Murray, and never played for the Penguins again before being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft.

Fleury didn't fade. He was 26-10-0 with a 1.98 GAA and a .928 save percentage for Vegas, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender. His 562 wins are second in NHL history behind Martin Brodeur (691).

In nine games against the Penguins, the 39-year-old is 5-4-0 with a 3.05 GAA and a .906 save percentage.

Still, it was never the numbers that made Fleury popular in Pittsburgh.

“He’s really good at looking at the positive,” Crosby said. “He has high expectations for himself, but I think he still finds a way to have fun and keep things light, find that balance.”

It was June 14, 2017. Fleury won the Stanley Cup on one side, Murray won the Stanley Cup on the other at Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh, handing the role of No. 1 goalie to his heir apparent.

A week later, Fleury was scheduled to appear at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as a member of the Golden Knights. The day before, on June 20, 2017, in his final moment with the Penguins, he signed autographs at DICK's Sporting Goods, a hill below their practice facility.

“It was important,” Fleury said. “The support I have received here over the years has been great. … Our building was full for I don't know how many years. Go to the games, watch the games, cheer us on. So for me it was just a little way to get to know some of them and say a little thank you to them.”

The Wild practiced at that rink on Monday.

Afterwards, as Fleury walked from side ice to the locker room, he noticed teenagers from the Penguins EXCEL Hockey Academy working on the main floor. He climbed up to take a few shots.

“What’s not to love? That’s honestly the question,” Letang said. “Just his personality, there’s not a single mean bone in his body.

“He comes to the rink with a big smile on his face. He plays the game with a big smile. He's obviously a great teammate. So it’s hard not to love a guy like that.”