Marc-Andre Fleury savors Stanley Cup win in what could be twilight of Penguins career

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In the aftermath of the Penguins' 2-0 Stanley Cup-clinching victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury received the famous trophy from defenseman Mark Streit and lifted it over his head in celebration.

When it came time for the next hand-off, Fleury made an interesting and perfectly symbolic choice.

He handed the torch — err, the Cup — to Matt Murray.

“I think together, we did a good job for these playoffs,” Fleury said. “He's a good guy to share it with.”

The Penguins goaltending tandem undoubtedly did a good job in the playoffs. Fleury, pressed into action when Murray suffered a lower-body injury before the postseason opener, put the team on his back and carried it through the first two rounds.

In Game 7 of a second-round series with Washington, he turned in a tour de force performance, making 29 saves in a 2-0 Penguins victory.

Fleury gave way to Murray in the third game of the conference finals against Ottawa and served as a backup the rest of the way. For that reason, he didn't celebrate as enthusiastically Sunday night as he normally might.

“It's fun to play the last game and battle and sweat for the Cup at the end there,” Fleury said.

He said he had to consciously remind himself to remember the work he did in the early part of the playoffs.

“It's almost a month ago, a month and a half ago. It's been a lot of hockey that's been played since then,” Fleury said. “Sometimes you get caught in the moment.”

With the expansion draft looming just about a week away, Fleury's days with the Penguins likely are numbered in the single digits.

When he does move on, he will do so with the knowledge that his final moments with the team that drafted him in 2003 were draped in glory.

“I try not to think about it right now,” Fleury said. “Enjoy this, enjoy my teammates and we'll see what happens.”

Jonathan Bombulie is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jbombulie@tribweb.com or via Twitter at @BombulieTrib.