The longest NHL winning streak in nearly a quarter century is no more.
The Blue Jackets lost a game Thursday for the first time since Nov. 26 in a 5-0 dismantling by the Capitals, ending their run of 16 consecutive wins. A 17th straight victory would have tied the NHL record set by the 1992-93 Penguins.
Instead, hockey’s hottest team will have to settle for the second-longest streak in modern NHL history.
In 2015 he was excused midway through a game against the Rangers because of a migraine.
Boston was trailing 2-1 at the time of Rask’s exit Sunday. Pittsburgh blew the game open in the third period with three goals on six shots against backup Zane McIntyre in the first 4:37 of the frame. Rask stopped 20 of 22 shots before leaving.
It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Bruins, who are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games and fading quickly in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
The slump has led to speculation the team may fire longtime coach Claude Julien to spark a turnaround.
Julien didn’t mince words following the Bruins’ latest loss.
This is a team that needs all 20 guys going to win, he told reporters. We don’t have enough talent to think we can get away with a mediocre game.
Rask, sporting a 22-11-4 record despite the team’s struggles, entered Sunday ranked fifth in the NHL with a 2.08 goals-against average.