Marc-Andre Fleury and Minnesota Wild defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH – Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 26 shots in what was likely his final game in the Steel City as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Frederick Gaudreau scored two goals and Kirill Kaprizov contributed a goal and two assists. Kaprizov tied the franchise record with his sixth consecutive multi-point game. Mats Zuccarello and Jakub Lauko also scored for Minnesota.

Fleury, who turns 40 next month, indicated the 2024-25 season will be his last. In his 21st NHL season, he played his 100th game with Minnesota on Tuesday and then saluted the fans.

“It may be hard to believe that this is the last time. I told you I went soft,” Fleury joked in his postgame media release. “But from the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful for what everyone has done for me over the years and for the support.”

He spent the first 13 seasons of his career with Pittsburgh and won three Stanley Cups: 2009, 2016 and 2017.

“It’s hard to put into words,” Fleury said in his on-ice interview after the game. “This is a second home for me and I have so many great memories, so many great people in the locker room over the years. And the fans of course, right?”

Pittsburgh selected the 18-year-old Fleury with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NHL draft, and he responded by stabilizing the franchise during a tumultuous time in its history.

“I feel very lucky,” he said. “The years here were some of the best years of my life. It’s hard to say goodbye.”

Fleury, still a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, acknowledged the crowd after a video tribute during the first televised timeout, when the beloved goaltender received a standing ovation and loud chants in an emotional moment.

Rickard Rakell scored two goals and Valtteri Puustinen scored his first power play goal for Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby had three assists. Joel Blomqvist stopped 34 shots for Pittsburgh, which lost its sixth straight game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.