Every year goalies from across North America train with coaches of the Goaltending Consultant Group. The GCG camps give many of these goalies the opportunity to train together and bond as fellow goalies. The GCG Newswire is a way to acknowledge and share the successes of all of the goaltenders who have benefitted from training with CGC Consultants, as well as enable them to keep current and support each other. GCG clients should feel free to contact us with any awards or accomplishments that we may add to the Newswire - your news is our news!
Fleury Undefeated in Shootouts (Mentors)
Dec. 20, 2009
Marc-Andre Fleury trains with GCG Consultant Tom Dempsey.
By Sam Kasan
BUFFALO, NY – The Penguins are starting to become very formulaic with their winning approach these days: superb goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury + clutch shootout performances = victories.
For the second straight game, Marc-Andre Fleury put together a spectacular 65-minute session, followed up by blanking the opponent in the shootout session as the Pittsburgh climbed to victory.
On Thursday, the Penguins defeated division/cross-state rival Flyers in Philadelphia. In the current edition, it was a 2-1 victory over the Sabres in Buffalo.
Fleury proved to be the difference maker once again with 31 saves in regulation and overtime and stoning all three Buffalo players in the shootout session.
“I don’t worry about it too much,” Fleury said of the shootout. “I go one guy at a time. I know that we can get some goals with the guys that we have. It’s going alright. Knock on wood. It feels pretty good to get some wins.”
“We have Fleury in the net. It’s a big factor,” said Kris Letang, who scored the lone goal in the shootout to tip the game in Pittsburgh’s favor. “It gives you confidence. They didn’t score the first goal and I’m going with a cushion. Mentally it’s a big thing. We have a lot of talent. Guys like this give you a chance to win every night.”
Fleury, who is now 4-0 in shootouts this year, shut the door on attempts by Buffalo’s Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Drew Stafford. The highlight of the sequence was an aggressive poke check on Roy to put an exclamation mark on the night.
“We practice shootouts before every game and it helps,” goaltending coach Gilles Meloche said. “You can be confident in your move. If you look in years past, that poke check didn’t work. Now he uses it so much in practice on the shootouts, his confidence is up there every time and it’s working.”
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