Wild’s Dubnyk chasing active NHL scoreless streak
Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk hasn't allowed a goal in over 196 minutes. Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk hasn't allowed a goal in over 196 minutes.
In his first 11 games, Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk went 4-6-1 and allowed 32 goals -- albeit, a few fluky ones -- for a goals-against average of 3.04.
Since then? He’s been a brick wall.
Dubnyk has stopped 106 consecutive shots and hasn’t allowed a goal in over 196 minutes of play, riding a three-game scoreless streak for the second time in his career.
The 31-year-old netminder also shut out three straight opponents last year from Oct. 25-29.
When Minnesota faces off against the Nashville Predators on Thursday night, Dubnyk will have a chance for a fourth straight shutout. Another 60 minutes of scoreless hockey would rank him first among active NHL goaltenders in single-season shutout streaks.
The last team to blank four straight opponents was the St. Louis Blues in 2015-16, behind goaltenders Jake Allen and Brian Elliot.
Longest Shutout Streaks by active NHL Goalies
| PLAYER | TIME (DATE RANGE) |
| Roberto Luongo, Van | 242:36 (11/02/08 - 11/12/08) |
| Brian Elliott, StL | 241:33 (03/15/12 - 04/04/12) |
| Martin Jones, SJ | 234:33 (10/07/15 - 10/16/15) |
| Mike Smith, Pho | 234:25 (03/24/12 - 04/06/12) |
| Brian Elliott, StL | 214:02 (04/04/13 - 04/14/13) |
| Roberto Luongo, Van | 212:12 (11/23/07 - 12/02/07) |
| Jonathan Quick, LA | 202:11 (10/15/11 - 10/27/11) |
| Ryan Miller, Van | 200:45 (01/08/15 - 01/19/15) |
| Brian Elliott, StL | 198:12 (02/22/16 - 03/29/16) |
| Steve Mason, CBJ | 199:28 (12/23/08 - 01/02/09) |
| Devan Dubnyk, Min | 196:20 (11/08/17 - **ACTIVE) |
A large part of Dubnyk’s recent strides has been the improvement of Minnesota’s blueliners. Since Oct. 24, the Wild top the NHL with a 93.9 penalty-kill percentage. But they’ll be put to test on Thursday night, as Nashville’s power play ranks ninth in the NHL (21.9 percent).
NOTABLE
-- Nashville has won five straight games, including back-to-back victories over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, both Eastern Conference powerhouses.
-- Jason Zucker’s 10 goals through 17 games is the second-most in Wild history, trailing Brian Rolston (11 in 2006-07) and Marian Gaborik (11 in 2002-03).
-- Minnesota topped Nashville three times last season in five meetings.
-- Twenty-six percent of the Predators’ goals have come from their blue line, which is the second-highest clip in the NHL.
Statistics courtesy STATS