Zach Fucale Has Record-Setting Night In Minnesota

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Jon Sorensen
Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images

Washington Capitals rookie netminder Zach Fucale stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced in the 3-2 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night. Fucale went the first 59:35 of the game without yielding a tally. In doing so, he set a new Capitals franchise record as well as a new NHL record.

Fucale made his second NHL start and third overall appearance Saturday night in Minnesota. The 26-year-old earned a 21-save shutout against the Detroit Red Wings in his NHL 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.

Fucale set the Capitals’ franchise record for the longest streak without allowing a goal to start their tenure with the team early in the first period of Saturday night’s tilt with the Wild, beating Cristobal Huet’s mark of 80:36 in 2008.

In the second period Fucale set the NHL record for the longest streak without allowing a goal to start their career, beating Matt Hackett’s (MIN) mark of 102:48 set in 2011.

In total, Fucale opened his NHL career going 138:41 before yielding his first NHL goal.

Fucale would allow his first NHL goal in the waning moments of regulation when Minnesota pulled their netminder for the extra attacker. The Wild’s goal at 19:25 of the third period sent the game to overtime.

Fucale would make an incredible save in the extra frame, keeping the game tied, and ultimately sending the game to the shootout.

For the season, Fucale is 1-0-0-1 with a .40 goals against average and a .980 save percentage. He’s stopped 50 of 51 shots he’s faced.

By Jon Sorensen

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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2 Responses to Zach Fucale Has Record-Setting Night In Minnesota

  1. Anonymous says:
    January 9, 2022 at 12:29 am

    Incredible game bu Zach. Exposed a tad in shootout, but all in all a very good outing.

    Reply
  2. Diane Doyle says:
    January 9, 2022 at 1:02 pm

    But unfortunate that the team had a own goal on a delayed penalty. This game should have been a 2-0 Caps win.

    Reply

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