Wild’s Dubnyk chasing active NHL scoreless streak

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

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