Pens’ Fleury stops 28 to blank Devils

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins stuck with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in the offseason, convinced two straight playoff meltdowns have not robbed the former Stanley Cup winner of his confidence.

The early returns are promising.

Fleury stopped 28 shots for his 250th NHL victory and franchise-record 24th shutout in Pittsburgh’s 3-0 season-opening win over New Jersey on Thursday night.

It was the kind of vintage performance the Penguins expect to rely on regularly as they take aim at another championship.

“We believe in [Fleury],” forward Sidney Crosby said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt in here. He made some great saves. We probably made him work harder than he needed to at the end, but there were some beauties.”

Crosby and newcomer Chuck Kobasew scored four minutes apart in the first period for Pittsburgh, who toned down their high-octane offense for a more disciplined approach.

Craig Adams scored a rare goal in the third in his 800th career game.

The Penguins — the NHL’s highest scoring team each of the last two seasons — took just 21 shots, including nine over the final two periods.

“I love the way our team played defense,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “The penalty kill was big the two times it had to be and ... Marc made some big saves late.”

Perhaps none more impressive than a behind-the-back stop on New Jersey’s Travis Zajac with less than eight minutes to play.

Zajac fired a shot from the left circle that clanged off the post and crawled up Fleury’s back. He managed to hit his glove on it to preserve a three-goal lead.

“I tried to reach as quickly as possible,” Fleury said. “I learned it from watching the [Pittsburgh] Pirates, I guess.”

Cory Schneider made 18 saves for the Devils. Schneider’s start marked the first time in 19 years Martin Brodeur didn’t play in the season opener for New Jersey. Brodeur is expected to start tonight at home against the New York Islanders.

“It’s tough to get down against a team like that and claw back,” Schneider said. “We had some chances, but Fleury made some big saves.”

Rather than head in a different direction after a disappointing four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference finals in June, the Penguins fortified the core that has been together for five occasionally brilliant seasons.

Pittsburgh signed stars Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang to long-term extensions, brought back Pascal Dupuis, and added two years to Bylsma’s contract.

The only alterations to the roster were minor. Defenseman Rob Scuderi returned to Pittsburgh four years after helping them win the franchise’s third Stanley Cup title. Kobasew earned a spot following a solid training camp, and 19-year-old rookie Olli Maatta did enough to stick around — at least for a bit — while Letang recovers from a lower-body injury.