Fucale sets NHL record for longest career-opening shutout sequence
Zach Fucale continues to make history in his fledgling and long-awaited NHL tenure.
The Washington Capitals goaltender established a new NHL record for the longest sequence without allowing a goal to start a career by holding the Minnesota Wild off the scoresheet through the first four minutes of the second period Saturday night.
Here was the leaderboard entering the period:
Did You Know? If @Fucale31 does not allow a goal in the first 3:43 of the second period, he’ll own sole possession of the longest career-opening shutout sequence in NHL history.#NHLStats: https://t.co/FWP9g2CMhf pic.twitter.com/c0vmV0S8fG
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 9, 2022
Fucale eclipsed the previous record Matt Hackett set in 2011. The Washington netminder also set a new franchise mark earlier in the game.
Zach Fucale has set the franchise record for the longest streak without allowing a goal to start their tenure with the team, beating Cristobal Huet’s mark of 80:36 in 2008.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 9, 2022
The Wild later scored when the Capitals put the puck in their own net on a delayed penalty call. That deprived Fucale of another accomplishment, even though his streak continued.
Although that goal won't be charged to Fucale, he no longer has a chance to be the first goalie to get a shutout in his first two NHL starts.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) January 9, 2022
The Wild ultimately won 3-2 in a shootout after Minnesota forward Mats Zuccarello tied the game with 35 seconds remaining. That officially ended Fucale's streak at 138:31, according to Sportsnet.
Fucale was making his second NHL start and third appearance. The 26-year-old earned a 21-save shutout against the Detroit Red Wings in his debut on Nov. 11 and then stopped all seven shots he faced in relief of Ilya Samsonov in a loss to the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.
It was Fucale's second historic night in his brief time in the NHL. The journeyman also made history in his first game, becoming the first Capitals puck-stopper to notch a shutout in a debut and only the seventh in league history at his age or older to do so.
The Montreal Canadiens drafted Fucale 36th overall in 2013.