Matthew Rodrigopulle
For me, my choice for the Penguins X-factor hasn’t changed from the first round.
Marc-Andre Fleury was doubted all season. Matt Murray was given starts ahead of him, and his place in Pittsburgh was often questioned.
Well now, with Matt Murray suffering a sudden injury at the most unruly time before round one, Fleury had to step in and takeover the Penguins goaltending. And he has done exactly that, and he’s done it effectively as every.
Round one saw Fleury shutting down the Columbus Blue Jackets a ton of times. He may not have had the best numbers, but he definitely did his part in keeping the Penguins in games.
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Heading into round two, Fleury will have to be as solid as he was in round one, and I fully expect him to be as good, if not better. Fleury is a proven playoff performer, and as of right now, he has been heavily underrated. Watch for him to take all that neglect he’s received during the year and turn it into great performances now that he has gotten an opportunity.