Monday marks the anniversary of when Boucher broke the records in a 21-save effort against at the Minnesota Wild.
The shutout streak ended two days later, when at 6:16 of the first period he allowed a deflected goal to forward Randy Robitaille of the Atlanta Thrashers.
The NHL recognizes its modern era as beginning with the 1943-44 season, when the center red line was introduced, according to the Official Guide & Record Book. Alec Connell, playing for the Ottawa Senators in the 1927-28 season, holds the all-time records for consecutive shutouts (six) and shutout streak (460:49).
Roberto Luongo has come the closest to Boucher's modern-day records. He had three consecutive shutouts and a shutout streak that lasted 242:36 playing for the Vancouver Canucks in the 2008-09 season. San Jose Sharks goalie Martin Jones had a shutout streak of 234:33 last season. That featured two shutouts.
"I get a chuckle every time someone gets two or three shutouts because people will text me or I'll get a tweet; they'll get me all fired up," Boucher said. "I'm not going to lie to you, I like having [the records]."
Boucher's shutout streak began Dec. 22, 2003 after he allowed a goal to forward Scott Walker at 19:15 of the second period of the game against Nashville, an eventual 3-3 tie when Boucher did not allow a goal during the final 25:45 of play.
Boucher got his first shutout with a 21-save performance at home against the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 31. His second came two nights later, when he made 35 saves at the Dallas Stars.
"You have to understand I was relegated to third string that season for over a month up until that point," Boucher said. "Zac Bierk and Sean Burke were the goalies. Zac ended up getting hurt. It was a tough year up until that point. But after that second shutout I remember I started to say to myself, 'Boy I feel really good about my game right now.' You don't think that it's going to take you to five games, but you start to really see the puck and get into a groove."
A 26-save shutout at the Carolina Hurricanes was next. He tied Durnan's consecutive shutouts record with his 27-save effort against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 7. His streak was now at 265:45.
"Now that it's been mentioned the guys are starting to tighten up too because they're aware of the record and they really want to get it for me," Boucher said. "They were a great group of guys. We weren't the greatest team that year, but for that stretch of time we were a group that pulled together and found something to play for. Guys stayed out of the box, blocked shots, played desperate. Guys realized we've come this far, there's no sense in blowing it now."
The shutout streak minutes record was broken in the third period against the Wild.