NHL Penguins' No. 1 choice off to impressive start

His first victory led to a coach's decision to start him tonight.
CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- It was only one preseason game, but Marc-Andre Fleury seemed to justify -- at least for now -- the Penguins' decision to trade up to get him.
Fleury, taken first overall in this year's entry draft, made a strong debut in Saturday's preseason game in Pittsburgh, stopping 22-of-23 shots in a 1-0 loss to the New York Islanders.
"He battled. He was very active and very emotional in the net," head coach Eddie Olczyk said Monday. "There were guys going hard to the net and he just competed really well."
Considering all the expectations on his shoulders, Fleury's showing was that much more impressive.
"I was excited, but I was also really nervous," Fleury said. "After a couple of shots I felt a little better, but I was just happy I didn't get lit up too much like for 10 goals or something."
Best goals-against average
After one game, Fleury's 1.02 goals-against average in 59 minutes is the best on the team. Jean-Sebastien Aubin has a 3.00 goals-against average and Sebastien Caron a 4.00 average. All three goalies have played a single game.
"We want to give all of our young players an opportunity and, again, the young players are pushing the older players and that's what we want," Olczyk said. "There's nothing wrong with healthy peer pressure and getting that competition against one another."
Fleury's performance has led to his getting the call in goal against Boston tonight in a preseason game being played in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It's a place the young goaltender knows well from his junior hockey days at Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
During the World Junior Championships earlier this year, he also backstopped Canada to a silver medal at the same rink.
"I'm getting into another NHL game, so I'm looking forward to that," Fleury said. "It's in Halifax, too, where I played in the World Juniors and during the regular season, and I think it's going to be fun to play back there."
One thing Fleury would rather not do is return to playing in Halifax on a regular basis, since that would mean he hadn't made the Penguins squad and was shipped back to Cape Breton. Because he's not yet under contract, the Penguins could opt to return him to his junior team, which would mean he would have to remain with Cape Breton for the season.
Even if Pittsburgh does sign him prior to the season's start, the team could keep Fleury on the roster for 10 games and, if things don't work out, send him back to the juniors.
"My goal is to be in the NHL one day," Fleury said. "But if I get sent down, I'll probably get more experience for when I come back here again next year."