The answer is obviously no. Hockey is the ultimate team sport. Unlike other sports fans, hockey fans are lucky if they see their heroes play for 1/3 of the game. Except for the goalie, whom we usually see the entire time. And if we don't see him for the entire time, it is commonly for a bad reason. We are quick to give accolades to our heroes when the our teams win. Standing ovations for Crosby, Malkin, Neal, and Kunitz are not uncommon in Pittsburgh. But if the Pens lose, one man usually carries the blame, Marc-Andre Fleury. As is the case for every goaltender in hockey, the loss rests on his shoulders, justified or not. He becomes the scapegoat, the center of criticism, and the subject for critique. Fans seldom see the lack of defensive play that leads to goals, only that the goaltender didn't stop the puck.
All that being said, one fact is true. To win the Stanley Cup, a team needs a certain amount of luck, and a hot goalie. The puck has to bounce your way a few times to become champion, and your goaltender has to make a few impossible stops. And I thank God that the Penguins have one who can.
We are all trying to forget the horrific 4 -2 first round playoff loss to the Flyers last year. And I am sure the Pens are as well. Fleury allowed 26 goals in that six game series. It's hard to bounce back from such a poor series. But if the regular season is any indication, then the Pens have bounced back, and so has Fluery. He has 23 wins and a 2.39 GAA in this lockout shortened season. And in the Eastern Conference, only Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers has better stats. Fleury won a Stanley Cup with the Pens in 2009, and was with them when they lost in the finals the year before. He has a great disposition, he accepts the blame in a heartbeat when the team loses. And coincidentally, he can also shake off a loss better than any goaltender in the league. He is great, and one of the Penguin's best draft picks ever. Let's make sure we all remember these facts during these playoffs if the Pens lose, and especially when they win. He deserves a standing ovation as well.
Oh, and as for the question above, if you ask Marc-Andre Fleury, the answer is obviously yes.
