Fleury, Crosby lead Pens into holiday break with best record in the NHL

Round 1 between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals went to Pittsburgh on Thursday night at the Verizon Center.

In another up and down highly entertaining game, Marc Andre Fleury stole the show, making 32 saves and turning aside six Capitals shooters in leading Pittsburgh to a 3-2 shootout win.

The game almost didn't make it to a shootout.

At 2:35 in overtime, Fleury robbed Mike Green with a sprawling glove save while on his back, reaching back across the goal line to stop Green who appeared to have won the game for Washington.

The play was reviewed and Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau thought the puck went in.

"Save for the fact that you can't see through leather, we probably would have won the game," Boudreau said.

Fleury though was the difference maker in the game.

"He {Marc Andre Fleury} won them the game, Caps defenseman Mike Green said.

Penguins players said after the game that this is as consistent as Fleury has ever played and the Penguins goaltender has turned a disastrous first month of the season into an All-Star season as the Penguins hit the holiday break.

"Without [Marc Andre Fleury] and his play, It's a much different outcome," captain Sidney Crosby said. "At the start... at the end, all the way through... he was a big part of us finding a way to win tonight."