Brian Boucher

Brian Boucher
Boucher as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2010–11 season.
Born	(1977-01-02) January 2, 1977 Woonsocket, RI, USA
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Philadelphia Flyers Phoenix Coyotes HV71 Calgary Flames Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets San Jose Sharks Carolina Hurricanes EV Zug
National team	United States
NHL Draft	22nd overall, 1995 Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1997–2013

Brian "Boosh" Boucher (pronounced Boo-shay) (born January 2, 1977) is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, and Carolina Hurricanes. Boucher currently holds the NHL's modern record for the longest shutout streak at 5:32:01, set while he was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes during the 2003–04 NHL season.

He is currently a television analyst for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Playing career

Early Philadelphia years

Boucher was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, 22nd overall. He began play with the Flyers during the 1999–2000 season, taking the starting position from veteran John Vanbiesbrouck and helped the team secure the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division regular season titles while leading the NHL in goals against average at 1.91. In the playoffs, he backstopped his team to the Eastern Conference Finals. Along the way, he recorded several memorable moments, including a five-overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a sprawling save against Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils. Although the Flyers were ahead 3-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Devils and despite the return of the injured Eric Lindros, Boucher and the Flyers lost in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils. In 2000–01, however, a weak start saw him lose his starting position to Roman Cechmanek.

Phoenix/Shutout streak

Boucher playing for the Phantoms in 2007–08.

He was traded with draft picks to the Phoenix Coyotes on June 12, 2002, for Michal Handzuš and Robert Esche. While with Phoenix, he broke the modern-day NHL record for the longest shutout streak by a goalie, going unscored upon for 332 minutes, or 5 and a half games. On February 1, 2006, Phoenix traded him to the Calgary Flames along with Mike Leclerc in exchange for Steven Reinprecht and Philippe Sauvé.

Chicago/Columbus

Boucher began the 2006–07 NHL season with the Chicago Blackhawks. On February 27, 2007, Boucher was picked up on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Boucher arrived hours prior to the Blue Jackets-Colorado Avalanche game that evening. During the game, he wore Ty Conklin's number 35 sweater. On March 3, 2007, Boucher made his Blue Jackets debut against his former team the Phoenix Coyotes. His first game was a successful 4–3 win.

San Jose Sharks

On July 23, 2007, Boucher signed an AHL contract with the Philadelphia Phantoms, the Flyers' AHL affiliate. He played with the Phantoms until he signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks on February 26, 2008.

Boucher playing for San Jose in 2007–08.

On June 25, 2008, stating how much he liked the San Jose atmosphere, he signed another one-year contract with the Sharks, worth US$650,000. He recorded consecutive shutouts in each of his first two games of the 2008–09 NHL season for the Sharks, before finally allowing a goal in his third game.

Return to Philadelphia

On July 1, 2009, Boucher agreed to a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers to be the steady, veteran backup to the starting goaltender Ray Emery. When Emery was hurt midway through the season, however, Boucher was thrust into the spotlight with mediocre results. A hand injury soon pushed Boucher to the sideline, and he was replaced by third-string goaltender Michael Leighton. Leighton excelled in Boucher's absence, and once healthy, Boucher found himself backing up Leighton. Upon the return of Emery, Boucher was further demoted to the press box, with Leighton now the backup. Emery soon re-injured himself, giving Boucher a chance to back-up Leighton, who once again was playing well. Near the end of the season though, with only 13 games left, Leighton went down with a high-ankle sprain, and Boucher was back into the spotlight for the Flyers once again. After a 2-1 shootout victory in the final game of the season against the New York Rangers, Boucher and the Flyers advanced to the playoffs.

In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, Boucher beat Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils in the first round by a margin of 4–1. The national media remarked that he was the surprise of the playoffs after the first round with his outstanding play in net. The Flyers defeated the Boston Bruins in the second round by overcoming an 0-3 game deficit, but Boucher was injured in Game 5 of that series with knee injuries. Boucher returned from his injuries to serve as a backup to Michael Leighton in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. He saw game action in Game 1 and Game 5 in relief of Leighton, but the Flyers lost in 6 games to the Blackhawks.

Boucher playing for the Hurricanes in 2011–12.

In the 2010–11 season, he split time in goal with standout rookie Sergei Bobrovsky after Leighton was demoted to the AHL, in part for hiding an injury. Bobrovsky started most of the games, and was named the Flyers playoff starter. After game 2 of the conference quarterfinals against the Buffalo Sabres, in which Boucher relieved Bobrovsky, and earned the win, Boucher started the next three games, but was pulled in Game 5 for Leighton, who was called up as a 3rd goaltender. Leighton played well, but lost Game 5 in overtime, nonetheless earning the start for Game 6. However, in Game 6, Leighton allowed 3 goals in the opening period, but once again Boucher was able to earn the win in relief, making Boucher became the only goaltender in NHL history to record two wins in a playoff series when coming in relief. Boucher went on to start Game 7, as the Flyers defeated Buffalo. Boucher started the first 3 games in the next round against Boston, but played poorly, allowing for the deposed starter Bobrovsky to return in Game 4, as the Flyers were swept.

Carolina Hurricanes and third stint with Flyers

After the Flyers acquired goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov and decided to keep Bobrovsky as backup, Boucher was the odd man out. On July 1, 2011, Boucher was signed by the Carolina Hurricanes to a two-year deal worth $950,000 per season. He played sparingly as the backup to Cam Ward, and his season ended early due to injury.

On January 13, 2013, after the end of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Boucher began his fourth stint in the Flyers' organization when he and defenseman Mark Alt were traded to Philadelphia in exchange for Luke Pither. Three days later, Boucher was waived and sent down to Adirondack, the new home of the AHL Phantoms. Boucher was named the team's starting goaltender, relegating previous starter Scott Munroe to backup duty and sending Phantoms backup Cal Heeter to the Trenton Titans, the Flyers' ECHL affiliate. On February 10, Boucher was recalled by the Flyers after Michael Leighton suffered a lower body injury. He saw action in four games before being sent back down to Adirondack on March 9 after Leighton returned to health.

Personal life

Boucher has a wife Melissa and has 2 children; son Tyler, born January 2003, and daughter Brianna, born December 2004. He attended Mount St. Charles Academy in high school.

Records

• Modern day NHL record with five consecutive shutouts in 2003–04.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OTL	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1993–94	Mount St. Charles Mounties	RIIL		15	14	0	1	—	504	8	9	0.57
1994–95	Wexford Raiders	MTJHL		8				—	425	23	0	3.25
1994–95	Tri-City Americans	WHL		35	17	11	2	—	1969	108	1	3.29
1995–96	Tri-City Americans	WHL		55	33	19	2	—	3183	181	1	3.41	.913
1996–97	Tri-City Americans	WHL		41	10	24	6	—	2458	149	1	3.64	.901
1997–98	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		34	16	12	3	—	1901	101	0	3.19	.888
1998–99	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		36	20	8	5	—	2061	89	2	2.59	.911
1999–00	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		35	20	10	3	—	2038	65	4	1.91	.918
1999–00	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		1	0	0	1	—	65	3	0	2.77	.903
2000–01	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		27	8	12	5	—	1470	80	1	3.27	.876
2001–02	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		41	18	16	4	—	2295	92	2	2.41	.905
2002–03	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		45	15	20	8	—	2544	128	0	3.02	.894
2003–04	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		40	10	19	10	—	2364	108	5	2.74	.906
2004–05	HV71	SEL		4	0	4	0	—	235	13	0	3.32	.884
2005–06	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		11	3	6	—	0	512	33	0	3.87	.877
2005–06	San Antonio Rampage	AHL		6	2	3	—	0	345	8	0	1.39	.950
2005–06	Calgary Flames	NHL		3	1	2	—	0	182	15	0	4.95	.854
2006–07	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		15	1	10	—	3	827	45	1	3.26	.884
2006–07	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		3	1	1	—	0	142	9	0	3.80	.866
2007–08	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		42	23	16	—	1	2288	94	4	2.47	.917
2007–08	San Jose Sharks	NHL		5	3	1	—	1	238	7	1	1.76	.932
2008–09	San Jose Sharks	NHL		22	12	6	—	3	1291	47	2	2.18	.917
2009–10	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		33	9	18	—	3	1742	80	1	2.76	.899
2009–10	Adirondack Phantoms	AHL		1	1	0	—	0	60	2	0	2.00	.935
2010–11	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		34	18	10	—	4	1885	76	0	2.42	.916
2011–12	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		10	1	6	—	1	546	31	0	3.41	.881
2012–13	Adirondack Phantoms	AHL		16	6	8	—	1	910	39	0	2.57	.905
2012–13	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		4	0	2	—	0	144	6	0	2.50	.891
2013–14	EV Zug	NLA		5			—		309	14	0	2.72	.925
NHL totals				328	120	139	30	15	18,219	822	17	2.71	.901
AHL totals				136	68	47	9	2	7630	336	6	2.64	.915
WHL totals				131	60	54	10	—	7610	438	3	3.45

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1994	Mount St. Charles Mounties	RIIL		4	4	0	180	6	1	1.20
1995	Tri-City Americans	WHL		13	6	5	795	50	0	3.77
1996	Tri-City Americans	WHL		11	6	5	653	37	2	3.40
1998	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		2	0	0	30	1	0	1.94	.944
1999	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		16	9	7	947	45	0	2.85	.906
2000	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		18	11	7	1183	40	1	2.03	.917
2001	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		1	0	0	37	3	0	4.86	.824
2002	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		2	0	1	88	2	0	1.37	.939
2009	San Jose Sharks	NHL		1	0	0	2	0	0	0.00	—
2010	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		12	6	6	656	27	1	2.47	.909
2011	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		9	4	4	422	22	0	3.13	.904
NHL totals				43	21	18	2388	94	2	2.36	.911
AHL totals				18	9	7	977	46	0	2.82	.908
WHL totals				24	12	10	1448	87	2	3.60

International

Year	Team	Event			GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA
1996	United States	WJC			4	3	1	0	220	13	0	3.55
1997	United States	WJC			6	4	1	1	357	9	2	1.51
Junior int'l totals					10	7	2	1	577	22	2	2.29

Awards and achievements

WHL

• 1995–96 - (West) Second All-Star Team
• 1996–97 - (West) First All-Star Team
• 1996–97 - Del Wilson Trophy (WHL Goaltender of the Year)

International

• 1997 - All-Star Selection, IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships

AHL

• 1998 - Calder Cup (AHL championship) with Philadelphia Phantoms

NHL

• 1999–2000 - NHL All-Rookie Team
• 1999–2000 - GAA leader - 1.91
• Oct 29–Nov 4, 2001 - Player of the Week

External links

• Career statistics and player information from NHL.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database, or TSN.ca
• Brian Boucher's profile at Hockey Goalies

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jason Bowen	Philadelphia Flyers' first round draft pick 1995	Succeeded by Dainius Zubrus