Flowers for ‘Flower?’ Wild fans serenading ex-Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury with bouquets

Minnesota’s welcome for Flower has been, well, flower-y.

Longtime popular Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury — known by the nickname “Flower” — joined the Minnesota Wild early last week via a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. So far, it’s been two starts, two wins for the 37-year-old, three-time Stanley Cup winner. And after each, Flower has been serenaded by flowers.

Following Saturday’s 3-2 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Xcel Energy Center, a fan threw a bouquet while Fleury was being announced as one of the three stars of the game.

Three days later, after a 4-1 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers in which Fleury made 32 saves, four bouquets littered the ice when Fleury was honored.

“It … feels like I’m figure skating picking up those flowers,” Fleury told reporters Tuesday night. “But obviously it’s very nice, very nice of the people.

“The fans have treated me well, but they don’t have to waste money (buying) flowers. It’s OK.”

Here are the bouquet of flowers a fan tossed on the ice when Fleury was named third star https://t.co/lu4IX9ii3O pic.twitter.com/EVwHYJfPcJ

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 27, 2022

Fleury kept the first bouquet and when asked what he’d with Tuesday’s floral arrangements said he would display them in his hotel room (presumably where he’s staying, at least temporarily).

“To have some plants in there would be nice,” he said. “Decorate a bit.”

Fleury is 2-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average and .948 save percentage in two games with the Wild, whose next game is Thursday at home against … the Penguins.

There was no word Wednesday if Fleury would start against the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2003 and for whom he played 14 seasons. Minnesota has another solid goalie in Cam Talbot.

PLUCKED BY FLOWER ???? pic.twitter.com/L4ZFmA7pYx

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) March 30, 2022

In seven career games against the Penguins with the Vegas Golden Knights and Blackhawks, Fleury is 4-3-0 with a 3.06 GAA and .905 save percentage.

Of Fleury’s 513 career victories, 375 came with the Penguins. Only childhood idols Martin Brodeur (691 wins) and Patrick Roy (551) have more.

“Winning is a lot of fun,” Fleury told Minnesota reporters Tuesday, “that’s why I like playing, it’s what I try to do. It’s a good feeling inside when you win games, so it’s been a good time here.”

With 17 games to play this season, the Wild (41-20-4) have the third-most points (86) in the Western Conference.

Keep up with the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long.