Manning played two series in the preseas

Marc-Andre Fleury never believed the expansion Vegas Golden Knights were a team built just for the future J'Mon Moore Jersey , and that losing would be acceptable because it was the inaugural season.

On Sept. 13, the three-time Stanley Cup goaltender said: ”It’s not something I accept. Every guy here wants to win. We know where we’re at, we won’t accept losing. We’re looking at winning some games.”

With help from Fleury, the Golden Knights did a lot more than win some games. They’re one of the most successful expansion teams ever. In any sport.

”It’s a good thing it worked out, so I don’t look like a fool,” Fleury said Friday about his bold preseason statement.

”Every guy here has a lot of pride in the way we play, the way we look at ourselves as a team every night. We all have pride in winning and I think it’s shown throughout the season, and in the (first round of the) playoffs, too.”

Fleury dominated the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. The Golden Knights became just the sixth team to allow three or fewer goals in a playoff series going back to 1980.

With an 0.65 goals-against average Fleury joined a short list of goalies since 1967-68 who have won all four games of a playoff series and kept their GAA to 0.70 or fewer.

Same ole Fleury, different team.

”We played some very sound hockey and when we didn’t, when we were having a bad period or a bad stretch, goaltending was there to help us stabilize,” Vegas general manager George McPhee said. ”And that’s why he’s here, that’s what he gets paid to do and he does it very well.”

Next up: the San Jose Sharks.

After fans watched a stellar goaltending matchup between Fleury and Kings’ Jonathan Quick, the 14-year veteran faces a San Jose team that had goalie Martin Jones stop 128 of 132 shots in a sweep of the Anaheim Ducks.

”Their goalie is very good; their defensemen also contribute to their attacks, they’re a quicker team than L.A. I think they’ll create more offensively,” Fleury said. ”It’ll be a little more fast pace and a little more open hockey, they’ll be a little more up and down.”

Fleury will prepare with a meticulous approach and tranquil execution that impresses teammates.

”His calmness in the net is unbelievable,” defenseman Shea Theodore said. ”When you’re having little chit chats on the ice and you’ve been hemmed in and they’ve had five or six or seven Grade A chances and he’s been flopping around, you go to talk to him. . He’s just so calm and so patient in the net Pierre Desir Jersey , I feel it definitely calms our group down.”

Forward Cody Eakin said Fleury always lets his teammates know he is aware of their play.

”It’s just a huge part of his game, tracking pucks, being sharp, or knowing what’s going on around him – he’s phenomenal at that,” Eakin said. ”It gives you confidence when he’s talking to you, or you can talk to him, or skate by and give him a wink. He’s pretty amazing.”

Amazing, like the Golden Knights’ improbable season. And Fleury said they’re just getting started.

”We’re not done here,” he said, ”hopefully we have a long way to go.”

STATWATCH: Fleury stopped 127 of 130 shots in the first round, a save percentage of .977. His career playoff save percentage is .910. He had two shutouts while allowing three goals in 275 minutes against the Kings.

While Fleury doesn’t get consumed with stats, there is one that matters to him.

”Wins,” he said. ”I’m not out there to prove anything, I just want to win games. If I can help the team get wins, that’s all that matters. If I win and the team wins, everybody’s happy, the coaches, the fans, and at the end of the day that’s why you play.”

The last time Fleury led his team to a first-round sweep was in 2009, when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup – the first of three in his career.

BIGGEST MOMENT: Any one of the three times Fleury hoisted the Stanley Cup was a big moment during his career. But not the biggest Bill Bates Jersey , according to him.

”My first game was pretty big, because that’s always been my dream to play in the NHL,” said Fleury, who allowed two goals and stopped 46 shots in a 3-0 loss to the Kings in his NHL debut on Oct. 10, 2003. ”I never thought I would make it. But the first time I could play and made some saves in a game, I thought that was so cool.”

Fleury didn’t say where a Stanley Cup with Vegas would rank, keeping his focus on San Jose.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: During an interview on NHL Network, former teammate Ryan Whitney asked the prankster goalie if he had moved on from Olive Garden, which Fleury laughingly said fit his budget back then. Nowadays, Fleury’s pregame meals are catered to his liking by the chefs at City National Arena, the team’s headquarters.

”On game day I always eat the same stuff. I just go with noodles, oil and chicken, a little vegetable, a side salad,” said Fleury, who said he cherishes the vibe on game day, including the drive to T-Mobile Arena.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Being the oldest player on the New York Giants, Eli Manning can smile talking about the generational gap between him and some of his younger teammates.

Many of the so-called kids on the team were in grade school when Manning was taken with the first pick of the 2004 draft.

Some such as halfback and recent No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley were still in grade school when the quarterback won his first of two Super Bowl MVPs in February 2008.

And things certainly are different now. The music has morphed. The games played on the cell phones and tablets are more advanced. Phrases used in speech have changed. Dancing on the field and in the locker room is more prevalent.

“There’s a lot of dancing going on, a lot of dancing T.Y. Hilton Jersey , which, I find very curious,” Manning, 37, said Tuesday after the Giants practiced for their annual preseason game against the Jets. “The music, I miss out on some of the music and social media, some of the things they’re on. For the most part, I can figure it out.”

Building relationships and putting the team first is what Manning has been all about entering his 15th NFL season.

While he is certainly more laid back than most of his teammates, Manning likes to reach out to the young men. He is notorious for taking their phones and changing the language to a foreign one.

Some players have caught on, though. Odell Beckham Jr. no longer uses 13-13 as his passcode to the cell phone, and other have chosen more intricate passwords. Manning is looking to get around that.

“You’ve got to have fun with them and connect with them,” Manning said. “There’s times where it is serious and you’re talking ball, they always know by the way I approach them whether I have something serious to talk about, a route or a concept or something. There’s (also) times where we get to goof off and kind of get to know the lighter side of them.”

Manning jokes that he is doing a lot more dancing to connect with a younger crowd that includes Beckham, Barkley, wide receiver Sterling Shepard and tight end Evan Engram, all 25 and under.

“I think I have a good relationship with all the guys, and I’m not trying to act like I’m 22, I act my age and make fun of myself a lot, and they add to it probably and so that’s fine Sam Acho Jersey ,” Manning said. “I’m good with that.”

Manning’s focus remains football. In recent days, he and Beckham have walked away from 11-on-11 drills between second teamers to work on pass routes and things they did not connect on in practice.

Beckham, who missed most of last season with a broken ankle, has not lost a step, Manning said.

“We’ve had game experience together,” Manning said. “Now Saquon, that’s different, just because he’s a rookie and missing some valuable time. So, I know he’s getting mental reps. It’s different than practice reps, it’s different than game reps. Hopefully, he can get back soon.”

Barkley has missed more than a week with a hamstring injury and it looks unlikely he will play Friday.

For Manning, the rivalry game with the Jets is nothing more than probably his last game before the season opener against Jacksonville on Sept. 9 at home.

“I look at it as the third preseason game and a chance for us to go out there and play for an extended period, against a good defense and a good team,” Manning said. “You want to go out there and execute well and feel good about where you are.”

Manning played two series in the preseason opener against Cleveland and led the team to a field goal. Shurmur rested him last Friday for the game in Detroit against the Lions.

“He kind of told me early on I probably wouldn’t play,” Manning said. “So, I knew I had to get the most out of the practices with Detroit, which I thought we got some good work. I always want to be out there and play, but I understand it. I look forward to this week getting out there.”

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