Boucher's streak is on the line
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 7, 2004 12:00 AM
Tonight's game
COYOTES AT CAPITALS
WHERE: MCI Center, Washington.
WHEN: 5 p.m.
TV/RADIO: FOXAZ/KDUS-AM (1060), KDUD-FM (93.3).
COYOTES UPDATE: Phoenix can win four in a row for the first time since February. G Brian Boucher will go for his fourth consecutive shutout. C Jan Hrdina has points in nine of his past 11 games (5 goals, 6 assists) since returning from a fractured toe. LW Ladislav Nagy has points in 10 of his past 13 games (6 goals, 8 assists). RW Shane Doan has not scored a goal in 13 career games against Washington. Tampa Bay is the only other club on which he has failed to score.
CAPITALS UPDATE: Washington is 0-5-1 in its past six games and is second to last in the Eastern Conference. The Caps have allowed the second-most goals in the NHL (134), 10 fewer than Pittsburgh. Sergei Gonchar (4 goals, 38 points) leads all NHL defensemen in scoring. C Robert Lang (20 goals, 46 points) and RW Jaromir Jagr (13 goals, 37 points) have been sizzling. RW Peter Bondra (15 goals) returns from a leg injury.
WASHINGTON - As carefree as the Coyotes appear to be at the moment, you get the sense they also just might be whistling through the graveyard.
They've got something special going and are deathly afraid to see it come to an end soon.
For the record, here's what's on the line today when they meet the struggling Washington Capitals at the MCI Center:
• A chance to put goalie Brian Boucher into the record books. The Phoenix backup has recorded three consecutive shutouts and can tie Bill Durnan's 55-year-old modern-day record of four in a row.
• Gaining more precious points in the standings. In addition to winning three straight, the Coyotes have earned points in eight of their past nine games, 15 of their past 18, and 21 of their past 27. They've had six losses in regulation since the first week of November.
• Captivating the Valley's sports audience. With the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Suns all on the downswing, the Coyotes are hoping to win over new fans.
"You look at the attendance and the fans' reaction in our first three games in Glendale, and I know the new building had something to do with that, but I think they understand and appreciate that maybe we kept up our end of the bargain," coach Bobby Francis said. "We've said all along we want to be a team that gradually improves and gets better each and every day and if we take care of the process, eventually the results are going to be there, and we're starting to witness that."
Boucher has been the primary benefactor of a renewed team commitment to sound defense, discipline and an opportunistic offensive attack. In making 92 saves without a miss, he has pushed his shutout streak to 3 hours, 25 minutes, 45 seconds.
If he keeps the Capitals off the board for two periods, it will be the second-longest streak behind only Durnan, who went 5:09:21 for Montreal in March 1949.
"We're going to try and do everything we can for Bouch," left wing Tyson Nash said. "He's playing great right now and he's been doing everything he can for us, so we don't want to let him down.
"That's the biggest thing. Nobody wants to be the guy who makes that mistake and lets in a goal. It's bound to happen. Eventually, it will happen. But trust me, nobody wants to be that guy. Hey, this is pretty special. This is a huge game for us, and it could be part of history."
Boucher, unbeaten in his past seven starts (4-0-3), is trying to keep an even keel in the midst of all the attention.
"Nothing changes. I'm just trying to approach every game the same way," he said. "We're on a three-game winning streak and to me, that's more important than the shutouts."
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 7, 2004 12:00 AM
Tonight's game
COYOTES AT CAPITALS
WHERE: MCI Center, Washington.
WHEN: 5 p.m.
TV/RADIO: FOXAZ/KDUS-AM (1060), KDUD-FM (93.3).
COYOTES UPDATE: Phoenix can win four in a row for the first time since February. G Brian Boucher will go for his fourth consecutive shutout. C Jan Hrdina has points in nine of his past 11 games (5 goals, 6 assists) since returning from a fractured toe. LW Ladislav Nagy has points in 10 of his past 13 games (6 goals, 8 assists). RW Shane Doan has not scored a goal in 13 career games against Washington. Tampa Bay is the only other club on which he has failed to score.
CAPITALS UPDATE: Washington is 0-5-1 in its past six games and is second to last in the Eastern Conference. The Caps have allowed the second-most goals in the NHL (134), 10 fewer than Pittsburgh. Sergei Gonchar (4 goals, 38 points) leads all NHL defensemen in scoring. C Robert Lang (20 goals, 46 points) and RW Jaromir Jagr (13 goals, 37 points) have been sizzling. RW Peter Bondra (15 goals) returns from a leg injury.
WASHINGTON - As carefree as the Coyotes appear to be at the moment, you get the sense they also just might be whistling through the graveyard.
They've got something special going and are deathly afraid to see it come to an end soon.
For the record, here's what's on the line today when they meet the struggling Washington Capitals at the MCI Center:
• A chance to put goalie Brian Boucher into the record books. The Phoenix backup has recorded three consecutive shutouts and can tie Bill Durnan's 55-year-old modern-day record of four in a row.
• Gaining more precious points in the standings. In addition to winning three straight, the Coyotes have earned points in eight of their past nine games, 15 of their past 18, and 21 of their past 27. They've had six losses in regulation since the first week of November.
• Captivating the Valley's sports audience. With the Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Suns all on the downswing, the Coyotes are hoping to win over new fans.
"You look at the attendance and the fans' reaction in our first three games in Glendale, and I know the new building had something to do with that, but I think they understand and appreciate that maybe we kept up our end of the bargain," coach Bobby Francis said. "We've said all along we want to be a team that gradually improves and gets better each and every day and if we take care of the process, eventually the results are going to be there, and we're starting to witness that."
Boucher has been the primary benefactor of a renewed team commitment to sound defense, discipline and an opportunistic offensive attack. In making 92 saves without a miss, he has pushed his shutout streak to 3 hours, 25 minutes, 45 seconds.
If he keeps the Capitals off the board for two periods, it will be the second-longest streak behind only Durnan, who went 5:09:21 for Montreal in March 1949.
"We're going to try and do everything we can for Bouch," left wing Tyson Nash said. "He's playing great right now and he's been doing everything he can for us, so we don't want to let him down.
"That's the biggest thing. Nobody wants to be the guy who makes that mistake and lets in a goal. It's bound to happen. Eventually, it will happen. But trust me, nobody wants to be that guy. Hey, this is pretty special. This is a huge game for us, and it could be part of history."
Boucher, unbeaten in his past seven starts (4-0-3), is trying to keep an even keel in the midst of all the attention.
"Nothing changes. I'm just trying to approach every game the same way," he said. "We're on a three-game winning streak and to me, that's more important than the shutouts."
