Wild’s Dubnyk earns 3rd straight shutout
ST. PAUL, MINN. » Devan Dubnyk posted his third straight shutout with 30 saves and Nino Niederreiter scored 12 seconds into the game for the Minnesota Wild in a 3-0 win over the hapless Flyers Tuesday night.
Dubnyk’s third shutout of the season stretched his scoreless streak to 195:05, breaking his mark of 183:16 set last season for the longest in team history. Dubnyk has stopped the last 103 shots he’s faced. That the last two of those games came against the Flyers ... well, maybe it’s a coincidence.
Eric Staal and Jason Zucker each scored an empty-net goal for Minnesota, which has won a season-best three straight.
Brian Elliott made 17 saves for the Flyers, who for the first time in their history have been shut out five times (a current NHL high) in their first 18 games of a season.
Niederreiter broke Zucker’s streak of six straight goals for the Wild, one shy of the NHL record for consecutive goals scored player for one team.
Staal won the initial faceoff and had possession of the puck on the left side when he centered to Niederreiter for a quick onetimer past Elliott. It was the fastest goal to start a game in franchise history at home.
Niederreiter, who was playing in his 400th NHL game, missed six games earlier this season with a high ankle sprain but has three goals and three assists in eight games since returning.
The Flyers have not scored in 156:09. Their top line of Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Jake Voracek has combined for 23 goals — 46 percent of the team’s total.
Philadelphia was 0 by a for 2 on the power play and has converted one time in its last 18 chances.
*** NOTES » Minnesota forward Charlie Coyle skated with the team for the first time since breaking his right fibula in a game on Oct. 12. Coyle has missed 14 games . ... Flyers rookie Nolan Patrick practiced with teammates as he eyes a potential return on Thursday. Patrick, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s entry draft, has missed eight games with a concussion . ... Phantoms promotee Mark Alt, a former high schoool and college player in Minnesota, is with the Flyers but was a healthy scratch.