Emotional scene in Wild dressing room for Marc-Andre Fleury’s final game

Everything about the Minnesota Wild’ last game of the 2024-25 season was emotional. Heading into overtime against the Anaheim Ducks, having already clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Wild put Marc-Andre Fleury in net for the extra time in what is his final regular season game. Matt Boldy then scored with 20 seconds left in OT to deliver the Wild a regular-season ending 3-2 win. Fleury, who came in cold off the bench, faced a four-on-three power play and made five saves for his 575th and final regular-season victory and NHL record 71st overtime win.

And there was so much love for Flower as the home crowd chanted his name and all of the Ducks players lined up to shake his hand and congratulate him on a wonderful career.

It was an unbelievably classy move of head coach John Hynes and especially starter Filip Gustavsson, who came up with the idea, to let Fleury in the extra frame.

“Do you think we can put in Flower?” Gustavsson said to Hynes. 

“I was like, ‘yeah,’” Hynes responded.

That was already emotional for the team, but when reporters gathered in the Wild’s dressing room, it went up a notch. At the end of his interview, Fleury teared up after getting a water shower upon entering the room after the win.

“It was fun to go one more time out there. And play the game that I love.”

If that wasn’t already a perfect sent-off for Fleury, he and his Wild will not be pitted against the Golden Knights, one of the goalie’s former team who could mark the official end to his 21-season career, four of which with Vegas as a beloved misfit.

In his career, Fleury is 574-339-97 with a 2.60 goals-against average and a 91.2 save percentage.

It was a fitting send-off the beloved Fleury in his last regular season. I mean, how can you not get behind this guy for a long playoff run?!