Boucher’s Streak Ends on a Fluke

Brian Boucher’s record shutout streak ended with a goal that deflected in off a Phoenix teammate.

The reaction was relief, not disappointment.

“I’m happy that it’s over,” Boucher said after the Coyotes tied the Atlanta Thrashers, 1-1, Sunday night at Glendale, Ariz. “It was a nice run, something that I’ll never forget.

“But we’re talking about one goal. I think it’s good for the team that we don’t have to answer questions about it anymore.”

Randy Robitaille’s slap shot glanced off the chest of Phoenix defenseman David Tanabe and into the net for a power-play goal that ended Boucher’s phenomenal string of five consecutive shutouts at 6:16 of the first period.

“I don’t think it would have hit the net if it didn’t hit me,” Tanabe said. “If it wasn’t for that bounce, he could have had another shutout.”

When the shot deflected directly in front of the net, Boucher had no time to react and block it.

“A fluky goal,” he said. “That’s how easily a goal can go in. The fact that it didn’t happen for five-plus games is pretty amazing.”

Phoenix Coach Bobby Francis thought it was a fitting end to the streak.

“He was in such a zone right now, you knew it was going to be a broken play,” Francis said.

Daymond Langkow intercepted Garnet Exelby’s clearing pass and scored an unassisted goal to tie it 1-1 at 6:21 of the third period as Atlanta’s winless streak reached seven games and Phoenix’s unbeaten string grew to six.

Boucher had 20 saves, including two incredible stops of shots by Ilya Kovalchuk, a left-handed stab in the third period, and a sprawling, diving block of a point-blank shot at 2:19 of overtime.

Atlanta’s backup goalie Byron Dafoe made 40 saves as the Coyotes outshot the Thrashers, 41-21.

“We threw everything at Byron Dafoe tonight and he was terrific,” Boucher said. “We should have come out with two points, and he was the only reason we didn’t.”

Dafoe was making only his 11th start of the season, and marveled at Boucher’s accomplishment.

“I’m sure there are 60 goalies around the league tipping their hat to him because it’s very impressive,” Dafoe said. “I don’t think that’s going to be broken definitely in my lifetime.”

Boucher, normally the backup to starter Sean Burke, broke modern-day records for consecutive shutouts and minutes without giving up a goal when he beat Minnesota, 2-0, on Friday.

He was not scored on for 332 minutes 1 second and had 146 saves in that span. The old records of 309:21 and four consecutive shutouts were set by Montreal’s Bill Durnan in 1949.

Boucher’s streak began with a 4-0 home victory over the Kings on New Year’s Eve, then followed with road victories over Dallas (6-0), Carolina (3-0), Washington (3-0) and Minnesota.

Colorado 5, Chicago 4 -- Alex Tanguay scored 3:42 into overtime to lift the Avalanche at Chicago.

Karlis Skrastins and John-Michael Liles scored in the third period for the Avalanche, which trailed, 3-0, after the first.

Ottawa 2, Carolina 2 -- Eric Cole broke a 26-game scoring drought with the tying goal with 3:29 left in regulation to lift the host Hurricanes into a tie with the Senators at Raleigh, N.C. Marian Hossa scored twice for the Senators.

Vancouver 2, Florida 2 -- Henrik Sedin scored with 6:26 left to complete a rally from a two-goal deficit in the third period and lift the Canucks into a tie at Vancouver, Canada.

Washington 1, Edmonton 0 -- Olaf Kolzig made 26 saves for his first shutout of the season, and the 32nd of his career, and Robert Lang scored the game’s only goal at Washington.

Tampa Bay 2, New York Rangers 1 -- Jassen Cullimore scored 2:03 into overtime to lift the Lightning to a victory over the Rangers at New York.

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Minute Man

Most consecutive shutout minutes by a goalie in the regular season:

*--* Min. Player Team Dates 332:01 Brian Boucher Phoenix Dec. 27, 2003-Jan. 11, ’04 309:21 Bill Durnan Montreal Feb. 24-Mar. 9, 1949 245:33 Turk Broda Toronto Oct. 15-29, 1950 237:07 J.S. Giguere 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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