Friday’s “First Call” shows us exactly how easy it was for Dalvin Cook to race all over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night in Minnesota. We preview the latest edition of Penguins-Capitals on Friday night. Marc-Andre Fleury reaches a milestone. And a former NFL Pro Bowl player dies far too soon.
Are you serious?
When the Steelers were on defense during their “Thursday Night Football” loss to the Vikings, running back Dalvin Cook was chewing them up. He finished with 205 yards rushing.
Most of it came seemingly effortlessly. The Steelers’ rush defense was practically non-existent. Consider these stats from NextGen.
Dalvin Cook had room to run all game during the #Vikings 36-28 victory over the Steelers.
Cook was expected to gain at least 5 yards on 15 of his 27 carries, the most such carries in a game by any player over the last three seasons.#PITvsMIN | #Skol pic.twitter.com/yqdjqjrRHu
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 10, 2021
Cook joins the likes of D’Andre Swift, Alex Collins and Joe Mixon as running backs who have topped 100 yards against the Steelers this season.
Flower’s 500th
Former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury now has 500 regular season wins in his NHL career.
The Flower tallied win No. 500 Thursday night by pitching a 2-0 shutout for the Chicago Blackhawks in Montreal against the Canadiens.
A native of Quebec, Fleury received a standing ovation from the Bell Center fans as they recognized his achievement.
FLEURY, FLEURY, FLEURY
Centre Bell saluting on an unbelievable achievement, all class @CanadiensMTL #Fleury500 pic.twitter.com/rUF7uvWT4A
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 10, 2021
Fleury joined Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy as the only NHL goaltenders to reach 500 career victories. Brodeur is the all-time leader (691). Roy stands second with 551.
Fleury made 30 saves en route to the win. And he got the royal treatment in the locker room from his teammates.
#Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt #Fleury500 belt pic.twitter.com/hGqopZDlB3
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 10, 2021
Of Fleury’s 500 victories, 375 came with the Penguins between 2003 and ’17. In addition to his 500 regular season wins, he has 90 more in the playoffs during his time in Pittsburgh and with the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
At their best
The Penguins face the Washington Capitals on Friday night. Washington sits atop the Metropolitan Division with 38 points. That’s one better than the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes who are tied for second place.
The Pens are in fourth with 29.
Like the Penguins, the Caps haven’t played since Monday. They beat the Anaheim Ducks in a shootout, 4-3. They smoked the Penguins, 6-1, on Nov. 14.
Alexander Ovechkin has 20 goals. Only Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers has more with 23. At 3.5 goals per game, the Capitals rank fourth in the NHL. At 2.46 goals allowed per game, they are third in the league.
Both teams sport a good penalty kill. The Penguins lead the NHL at 91.9%. Washington is ninth at 82.8%.
Neither power play is all that proficient. Washington is at 17.6% — 21st in the NHL. The Penguins are clicking at 15.3% (26th).
Far too young
Former NFL player Demaryius Thomas died at the age of 33 on Thursday.
The ex-Denver Bronco receiver was found dead in his home in Roswell, Ga. A police spokesman there tells the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, “Preliminary information is that his death stems from a medical issue, and our investigators currently have no reason to believe otherwise.”
During his eight years in Denver, he won a Super Bowl and made the Pro Bowl four times. Thomas also played with the Houston Texans, New England Patriots and New York Jets over a decade-long career.
He is perhaps best known for his 80-yard touchdown reception from Tim Tebow on the opening play of overtime to beat the Steelers by a score of 29-23 in a 2011 playoff game.
Thomas grew up in Georgia and attended Georgia Tech.
