Fleury Returns to Penguins

Rookie goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will rejoin the Pittsburgh Penguins today, just over a month since leaving to play for Canada in the world junior championships in Finland.

Fleury was expected to practice with the Penguins today, Pittsburgh General Manager Craig Patrick said.

Fleury, the first pick in the June draft, got off to a strong start with the Penguins, winning or tying five of his first seven starts. His record slipped to 4-10-2 with eight losses in nine games, including two overtime losses, before he left after a Dec. 9 overtime loss to Vancouver.

In the championship game of the world juniors, Fleury’s attempted clearing pass banked off a teammate and into his own net for the winning goal in a 4-3 loss to the United States.

Coach Eddie Olczyk hasn’t said when he expects Fleury to play again.

Fleury can play nine more games before the team owes him $3 million in contract bonuses.

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Colorado wing Teemu Selanne injured his neck after a hard hit against the boards, forcing him from the game against Dallas on Saturday.

Avalanche Coach Tony Granato said Selanne got hit in the head, and was held out of the rest of Colorado’s 4-2 win as a precaution. Selanne is considered day to day.

Selanne went down early in the second period when he was elbowed by David Oliver in the corner. Selanne stayed on the ice for several minutes before getting to his feet and slowly skating off the ice and going to the locker room.

Colorado plays today at Chicago.