Dec 1, 2006 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – A wide-eyed rookie at 18 and a raw but inconsistent talent during his second NHL season last year, Marc-Andre Fleury is finally coming into his own. The Pittsburgh Penguins goalie has seen his goals-against average, save percentage and winning percentage improve dramatically in his third NHL season.

“He started at such a young age,” Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. “He had a lot of things to work on. But he’s more mature, he’s learned more about the game, and right now he’s doing a fantastic job.”

Fleury came into the season with a 17-41-8 record, 3.36 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in 71 NHL games during the 2003-04 season and last season.

But Fleury, who turned 22 on Tuesday, has an 11-5-3 record with a 2.72 goals-against average and .915 save percentage heading into his scheduled start Friday night against the New Jersey Devils.

He was tied for seventh in the league in victories and just out of the top 10 in save percentage.

“This season has been much better for me,” said Fleury, who will likely spend an entire season in the NHL for the first time. “I think the team has played a lot better in my zone blocking shots and clearing rebounds, and I worked on my game.”

Fleury wowed fans in his first two seasons with his sometimes spectacular saves.

But he could be inconsistent and would often have bad nights when brilliant saves were negated by a soft goal or two.

That has not often been the case this season for a Pittsburgh team in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Fleury already has nearly as many wins as he had all last season.

“He’s made some fantastic saves, but when you’re making too many of them that means you’re not in good position,” Therrien said.

“You look at great goalies – guys like Martin Brodeur – they make it look easy. You make it look easy because you’re in a good position and you let the puck hit you. That’s what Marc-Andre is doing this year.”

Teammates are taking notice.

“He likes being out there, and he likes practicing every day,” veteran Mark Recchi said. “He wants to be the guy, and that’s a great sign for a young goalie.”

Fleury said he is also benefiting from the work of goaltending coach Giles Meloche. Pittsburgh had no full-time goaltending coach last season.

“He’s easy to work with,” Meloche said. “And he wants to be the best.”

The Penguins have played more comfortably in front of Fleury this season, knowing they have more margin for error should they make a mistake.

“He’s doing a great job making the timely saves this year,” leading scorer Sidney Crosby said. “If he continues doing that, hopefully our success will continue, too.”

NOTES: The team announced RW Andre Roy had cleared waivers and was assigned to its AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Roy, 31, appeared in five games for the Penguins this season, with no points and 12 penalty minutes.