Weekes: Penguins' Fleury continues to thrive

NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes, in conjunction with the new Canada Post goaltender stamp series, provides his insight into the position he played for 11 seasons in the League.

We're more than a month into the NHL season and we've seen some goalies dominate. Some are the usual suspects, among the League leaders each season, and others have been surprises.

So who's been the most valuable Game Saver so far this season? It's not 2015 Vezina Trophy winner Carey Price, who has played well but is injured. It's also not either of the runners up (Devan Dubnyk, Pekka Rinne).

In my opinion, it's a guy who's been one of the most consistent goalies for the past decade but doesn't get the respect that other guys get: Marc-Andre Fleury.

Once again, Fleury is the most consistent Pittsburgh Penguins player on a team with all those stars. He's on a team that's going through a little bit of a transition in terms of the way they play, but Fleury has been embracing winning games, 2-1. I talked to Sidney Crosby and he said how they're able to win a game 2-1 or 3-2 and are defending now. When you get that buy-in from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, those guys realize they need to add this to their ability and ways to win games.

Because they can do that, they are winning games in different ways, and that can give them a better chance of playing deeper into the spring. The most consistent Penguins player this year and last year has been Fleury. They know what they are getting from him back there. You look at his numbers, he was great in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season; he had a great regular season and he's been awesome again this season too.

Fleury was 34-20-9 with a 2.32 goals-against average, a .920 save percentage and 10 shutouts last season. He's 7-5-0 with a 1.93 GAA and .933 save percentage and two shutouts this season. After allowing eight goals in his first three starts, Fleury has allowed nine goals in seven games.

In addition to Fleury, here are two honorable mentions and one surprise goalie so far this season:

HONORABLE MENTION

Frederik Andersen, Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks didn't start the season well and looked nothing like themselves after an amazing record-setting 2014-15 season, which made it seem as if Andersen wasn't playing well. Sure, his record said 0-5-2, but he had allowed 15 goals; the Ducks just weren't scoring for him.

But Andersen looks every bit as good as he has been. Prior to a 4-3 overtime loss against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday, he'd won three straight games. Anderson is very committed to his craft and works exceptionally hard. Look at his save percentage (.929). He still had a .930 or so save percentage prior to their winning streak. Now that Ryan Getzlaf is back, he looks like himself as does Corey Perry, but the backbone of that team has become Andersen. Despite having three wins in 11 starts, he has a career record of 58-22-8 and is a proven winner.

Michal Neuvirth, Philadelphia Flyers: Neuvirth has three wins this season, all shutouts. Take a look at his numbers and the level he is playing at. He's been amazing. His .945 save percentage ranks first in the League and his 1.81 GAA ranks fourth. The signing of him was general manager Ron Hextall's decision. Hextall wanted somebody that could come in and be a 1B to Steve Mason and he's been exactly that so far. Neuvirth has faced at least 30 shots in five of his six starts and has already exceeded many people's expectations of him.

PLEASANT SURPRISE

Mike Condon, Montreal Canadiens: Condon has been amazing. This is a guy that has been in the ECHL, the American Hockey League, has worked for everything he has, and oh by the way, has replaced the best goalie in the League right now in Carey Price, who won four major awards last season. No big deal, Condon's only gone 6-0-1 with a League-leading 1.57 GAA and .940 save percentage. I know how great the Habs are playing, but after Price and Henrik Lundqvist it's a pretty steep drop-off that people would expect if either of them got hurt.

When Lundqvist went down last season, Cam Talbot was amazing and we're seeing that from Condon right now. He looks calm in the net and smooth. I spoke to Canadiens goalie coach Stephane Waite, who talked about his work ethic and how much of a student he is; no surprise, he went to Princeton. He's a student of the game, he's hard-working, he's humble. Waite is still trying to make a few adjustments in his game that he and Condon are working on, but so far he's been an amazing godsend for the Canadiens because all could have gone downhill with the injury to Price. Very mature kid, and Waite loves his preparation.