Another Shutout for Boucher
Brian Boucher deflected the attention as easily as the Washington Capitals’ shots.
Boucher became the first NHL goalie in almost 55 years to record four consecutive shutouts, making 27 saves in the Phoenix Coyotes’ 3-0 victory in Washington on Wednesday.
“I’ve had some help along the way, but ... you need luck on your side too,” Boucher said. “They hit some posts and guys have been blocking a lot of shots.”
The last goalie with four straight shutouts was Montreal’s Bill Durnan, who accomplished the feat from Feb. 26 to March 6, 1949.
Boucher stretched his shutout streak to 265 minutes 45 seconds, and trails only Durnan’s modern-era NHL record of 309:21, also set in 1949.
Boucher will be back in goal Friday night in Minnesota, where the Coyotes close a four-game trip.
“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Boucher said. “Hopefully, I can ride it through until Friday.”
Phoenix Coach Bob Francis left little doubt that Boucher will start against the Wild.
“What would you do?” Francis said. “I’m not stupid.”
Shane Doan had a goal and an assist and Damond Langkow and Ladislav Nagy also scored for the Coyotes, 4-0-4 in their last eight road games.
Boston 3, Detroit 0 -- Andrew Raycroft made 36 saves for his second career shutout in the Bruins’ victory at Detroit. Joe Thornton, Travis Green and Mike Knuble scored to help Boston end the Red Wings’ four-game winning streak and 12-game home unbeaten streak (11-0-1).
Pittsburgh 4, New Jersey 2 -- Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 31 saves and the Penguins won on the road for only the third time this season.
Mike Eastwood, Ryan Malone, Eric Meloche and Matt Bradley scored to help Pittsburgh to its first road victory since Nov. 14 at Buffalo.
Minnesota 7, Chicago 4 -- Eric Chouinard scored two goals and the host Wild broke out of its offensive slump with a franchise-record seven goals. Chouinard scored his first goals for the Wild since coming to Minnesota last month in a trade with Philadelphia.
Philadelphia 1, Buffalo 1 -- Martin Biron made 44 saves and Alexei Zhitnik scored a power-play goal in the second period to help the Sabres tie the Flyers at Buffalo.
John LeClair scored for Philadelphia, which went 2-3-2-1 on an eight-game trip.
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Zero Tolerance
Most consecutive shutout minutes by an NHL goalie in the regular season:
*--* Min. Player (Team) Dates 309:21 Bill Durnan, Montreal Feb. 24-Mar. 9, 1949 265:45 Brian Boucher, Phoenix Dec. 27, 2003-current 245:33 Turk Broda, Toronto Oct. 15-29, 1950 237:07 J.S. Giguere, Mighty Ducks Dec. 6-18, 2002 227:40 John Vanbiesbrouck, Phila. Oct. 17-26, 1999 221:58 Martin Biron, Buffalo Jan. 11-25, 2003 219:26 Ed Belfour, Dallas Nov. 15-29, 2000 219:21 Trevor Kidd, Calgary Mar. 31-Apr. 8, 1998 218:42 John Vanbiesbrouck, Phila. Jan. 3-16, 1999 217:38 Jim Rutherford, Detroit Dec. 20, 1975-Jan. 10, ’76
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