NHL Teen goalie Fleury to get start for Pens

The Penguins open the NHL season tonight at home against Los Angeles.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Marc-Andre Fleury's ex-roommate has already given the No. 1 draft pick some expert advice about what to expect as a teenager playing his first NHL game.
Mario Lemieux, the Penguins' owner-player and Fleury's former landlord, also made his NHL debut without a minute of pro experience, as the rookie goaltender will do tonight against the Los Angeles Kings.
"I told him just to have fun," Lemieux said Thursday. "It's nerve-racking your first game, especially when you're 18 years old, not really knowing what to expect in game situations. We'll try to relax him a little bit and, with all the talent he has, I'm sure he will be fine."
Whirlwind week
Fleury's not quite as confident as Lemieux; he learned only after practice Thursday he would start. The news added to what has been a whirlwind week for him. He didn't reach contract terms until Monday, then needed two days to obtain a work visa and return to Pittsburgh from Montreal.
Fleury acknowledged he might be "a little stressed," and probably for good reason. A year ago, he was opening his third Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season with Cape Breton. Now, he'll be trying to stop skilled shooters such as the Kings' Jason Allison, Ziggy Palffy and Adam Deadmarsh.
"I'll just have to try to play like I'm used to playing," said Fleury, who played for Canada in the world junior championships last season. "At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to make the team. I just wanted to do well in training camp. Now it's the season, and I wasn't expecting to play.
"I'll just try to keep it simple and not worry about anything, just try to be my best."
Rebuilding team
The Penguins are rebuilding after finishing with the NHL's second-worst record last season, yet it wasn't as if they didn't have other goaltender options.
Sebastien Caron, rewarded with a $3.2 million, four-year contract after playing well down the stretch as a rookie last season, will start Saturday night in Philadelphia.
Penguins coach Eddie Olczyk felt that letting Fleury play before a supportive home crowd was a better choice than playing him in Philadelphia or making Caron start both nights.
"I talked about it with Craig [Patrick, the general manager] and Mario but, ultimately, it was my decision," said Olczyk.
No matter how well he plays, it will be difficult for Fleury to top Lemieux's debut in October 1984. Less than a week after his 19th birthday, Lemieux scored a goal on his first shift and first shot in Boston.
Fleury stayed with Lemieux's family last week, and the Hall of Famer explained what to expect in his first game.
"The shooters are a little bit more precise, it's a lot harder than what he's faced in the past, and the quickness of the game is a concern for him, but he's adjusted pretty well," Lemieux said. "It will take time, but, as long as we can help him for the first few games, I think he'll be in good shape."