Fleury responds to start with win over Columbus in Game 1, 3-1

In Pittsburgh Wednesday, Penguins’ presumptive starter, Matt Murray, went down with an injury in warmups and Marc-Andre Fleury got the start for the Pens in Game 1 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 31 saves in win over Columbus in Game 1 – file photo by Lewis Bleiman

He made 31 saves to backstop the Pens to a 3-1 win.

“I just tried to approach it as a regular game,” Fleury said. “It was fun. It’s been a while. I was a little nervous in the beginning, maybe from not expecting it. The guys did a great job in front of me too, all game long, blocking shots and taking rebounds away. At the end, it was a great feeling.”

The Pens’ offense was nowhere to be found in the opening frame when they were outshot 16-3,

“The fact that we have [Fleury] and Matt, I think gives us a comfort level,” Pittsburgh head coach Mike Sullivan said, “because we know they’re both No. 1 goalies. I said to these guys all along, ‘I need both of you.’ It’s just the way the game is.”

Fleury held the fort while the Pens rallied their offense and scored early ikn the middle frame on a goal from Bryan Rust.

Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino stretched the lead out to 3-0

“I still think we were OK after the first one. It was their first chance of the game,” Columbus coach John Tortorella said. “After the second one, I thought we lost ourselves for a little bit. They surged and we kind of hung on there for a bit.”

Matt Calvert struck for the only Jackets goal in the loss.

“It’s just that lull. You have to find a way to minimize those,” Columbus’ Nick Foligno said. “And also, the offensive guys in here, we have to find a way to capitalize. Their offensive guys did, and that’s pretty much the difference in the game.”

Sergei Bobrovsky took the loss on 26 saves.

“I think they put us on our heels a little bit, but I think we had a pretty good third period. Something to build on for Game 2. It’s a marathon, it’s not a sprint,” the Blue Jackets’ Brandon Dubinsky said.