Phoenix Coyotes goalie Brian Boucher broke the record for the longest shutout streak in modern NHL history, extending his string to more than five hours in a 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Friday night in St. Paul, Minn.
Boucher’s streak stands at 325 minutes 45 seconds entering a home game Sunday against Atlanta.
He stopped 21 shots and posted his fifth consecutive shutout, leaving the ice to a loud cheer from Minnesota’s fans.
Early in the third period, Boucher passed Bill Durnan’s mark of 309:21, set in 1949 with Montreal. He has 130 saves since the streak began.
“I did look up at the clock,” Boucher said. “Once I saw it was, I think, four minutes into the third, I knew I could breathe easy as far as the streak is concerned.”
A third-stringer when the season began, Boucher was left unprotected in the waiver draft and didn’t move up the Coyotes’ depth chart until Zac Bierk injured his groin in November.
The NHL’s modern era began after 1944, when the center red line was added. Alex Connell owns the overall NHL records of six straight shutouts and a 461:29 scoreless streak for Ottawa in 1927-28, when forward passing was not permitted in the attacking zone.
RESULTS, FRIDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Carolina 1 at Washington 4
Jaromir Jagr broke out of a prolonged slump with a goal and two assists, and the Capitals snapped a seven-game winless streak. Jagr’s last goal was on Dec. 23.
Tampa Bay 4 at New Jersey 1
Dave Andreychuk and Fredrik Modin scored the 2 fastest goals in Lightning history, tallying 9 seconds apart in the 3rd period. Martin St. Louis scored a team-record fifth short-handed goal.
Ottawa 2 at Buffalo 3
Rory Fitzpatrick’s third-period power-play goal and Martin Biron’s 23 saves gave the Sabres the victory, which ended the Senators’ 11-game unbeaten streak (9-0-2).
Phoenix 2 at Minnesota 0
The Wild is 1-3-5 in its last nine games. Minnesota went 0-for-3 on the power play and is 1-for-30 with a man advantage over its last 10 games.
Vancouver at Anaheim, late
“We haven’t been getting the best out of our guys all at the same time. Some guys show up and other guys don’t,” said Anaheim captain Steve Rucchin. The Ducks are 0-2-2 in last 4.
