An old friend will likely be in net when the Penguins open their home schedule.
According to a report, Marc-Andre Fleury is lined up to start for the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena Saturday night.
Fleury was traded by Vegas to Chicago in July following speculation that the Penguins were interested in reacquiring the 2020-21 Vezina Trophy winner.
The 36-year-old spent 2003-2017 in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups and becoming the winningest goalie in franchise history.
Pittsburgh faced Fleury five times while he was with Vegas. Fleury has a record of 3-2 with a 2.63 goals against average and a .910 save percentage against his former team.
Given the NHL’s pandemic-related scheduling changes, the Penguins did not face him or the Golden Knights last season.
The previous year, Fleury posts a 29-save shutout in a 3-0 Vegas win in Pittsburgh. He also allowed four goals in a 4-3 loss later in the year.
In the 2018-19 season, Fleury and the Golden Knights beat up the Penguins, 7-3, as he stopped 34 shots.
His first season away from Pittsburgh was 2017-18. Fleury made 24 saves in a 2-1 Vegas win in the desert. A month later, in his first game back in his old town, Fleury gave up five goals in a 5-4 Penguins win.
Fleury is currently third on the NHL’s all-time wins list, behind Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy.