Teams with Longest Winning Streak in the NHL History

The crowd’s roar echoing off the ice after the final buzzer and the electrifying tension of a team on fire – few hockey stories capture the imagination like a prolonged winning streak. From audacious multi-game tears to the grit and determination of the win-stacking rampages, these streaks of Pro Hockey victory etch themselves into the annals of NHL history. But which teams have pushed the limits of dominance, rewriting the record books and engraving their names as the kings of consistency? Buckle up, hockey fans, because we’re diving into the white-knuckled tales of the teams who conquered the ice, one sizzling win at a time. In this post, we will uncover the teams who dared to rewrite the definition of “streak” and etched their names in the frozen pantheon of NHL legends as we search for the NHL record for most consecutive wins.

Multiple teams and franchises have reached double digits of consecutive League Regular season wins, which we present here.

13 Straight and Looked Great

Thirteen might not be the NHL win streak record, but few franchises have reached this milestone. Here are the handful that found the number 13 to be “lucky” and good.

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The long winning streak of the 1970-71 Bruins was a thrilling display of dominance during a season already etched in hockey history. This streak, occurring between February 23 and March 20, 1971, showcased the offensive juggernaut that Boston had become and fueled their march towards a record-breaking season. The Bruins averaged an impressive 5.2 goals per game during the streak, led by Phil Esposito’s goal-scoring and Bobby Orr’s impressive assists.  

Despite their focus on offense, the Bruins remained disciplined, allowing only 2.08 goals per game during the streak. Their starting goaltender, Eddie Johnston, posted a stellar save percentage during this period.

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Ah, the Devils’ fiery run of 2001! It was a blaze of scoring prowess, defensive dominance, and the undeniable magic of Martin Brodeur between the pipes. This master of the crease shut the door on opposing offenses and single-handedly stole several games, proving himself to be one of the league’s best goalies. 

It all began on February 26, 2001, against the Ottawa Senators. A whirlwind of victories followed, each igniting New Jersey fans’ hopes. The Devils weren’t just winning; they were scoring in bunches. Patrik Elias, Alexander Mogilny, and Petr Sykora each lit the lamps consistently to lead the charge, contributing to one of the league’s most potent offenses.

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How about the 1985-86 Philadelphia squad and their electrifying 13-game win streak – a time etched in Flyer’s hockey lore! The string of W’s started on October 19, 1985, with a home victory against the Minnesota North Stars. This initial win ignited a fiery run that saw the Flyers dismantle opponents with offensive finesse and defensive grit. This win streak wasn’t a one-man show. The dynamic duo of Tim Kerr and Rick Tocchet tore through defenses while goalie Pelle Lindbergh stood tall between the pipes. Ten games into these victories, on November 17, soon after a nail-biting overtime victory against the New York Islanders, goaltender Lindbergh tragically died in a car accident. This devastating loss cast a shadow over the team, but their spirit remained unbroken as they hammered out three more in honor of their fallen teammate.

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The Sunshine State Cats had a wild ride that propelled them into the NHL spotlight and had fans cheering in the stands. March 29 started the party that included seven shutouts during the streak (most in league history during a winning streak) and five victories in an extra session. This occurred after Joel Quenneville’s early season resignation and Andrew Brunette’s promotion to bench boss. Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau led the charge on offense, while Sergei Bobrovsky was a wall in front of the net.

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The Devils had an equally dominating stretch in the 2022-23 season. Rising skating stars Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Jack Hughes showed their skills. During the streak, Hischier tallied 16 points, Bratt posted 15, and Hughes sizzled with 18 in the 13-game run.

Fourteen and Still Mean

Reaching fourteen wins in consecutive NHL contests is a BIG deal! Creating one of the longest win streaks in NHL history takes talent, skill, teamwork, and a little luck.

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The Bruins reached fourteen straight regular-season victories twice in franchise history. The first occurred during the early 1929-30 season.

It sprouted on November 30, 1929, with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and spanned eight weeks, concluding on January 9, 1930, with a 4-3 win against the same Pittsburgh team.

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The 14-game win streak of the 2009-10 Washington Capitals was a stretch of pure dominance, a display of offensive firepower and defensive lockdown. The streak included nine in regulation, four in overtime, and even a shootout win.

Some incredible highlight reel moments transpired during the run, like Alexander Ovechkin’s game-winning overtime goal against the Montreal Canadiens and Nicklas Backstrom’s four-goal outburst against the Florida Panthers.

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Technically, the Panthers accomplished the feat of fourteen regular-season victories, hitting the plateau by stringing together six wins at the end of the 2020–21 season, coupled with eight more at the start of the 2021–22 NHL year. In the middle of the run was a first-round playoff series defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning, two games to four.

15 Wins in a Row

Streaks like these place the word “legendary” in front of them. Special teams with memorable and talented people make this list.

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The Sabres added five 2005–06 regularly scheduled season-ending W’s along with the fast start of ten victories to initiate the 2006–07 campaign to hit the lofty number fifteen in their streak. The 2005-06 season was the first 100–point season in 23 years for Buffalo as team leaders Daniel Briere, Ryan Miller, Maxim Afinogenov, and Chris Drury helped the franchise achieve the feat.

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In 2013, the Pittsburgh Penguins unleashed an unstoppable force. Fueled by Sidney Crosby’s brilliance and Evgeni Malkin’s power, they ripped through 15 straight games, a dazzling mix of comebacks, overtime thrillers, and shutouts. The Penguins devoured opponents, from Montreal’s wild 7-6 opener to a dominant sweep of Boston’s vaunted defense. Though stopped just shy of the record, their 15-game waltz stands as a testament to their dominance and a legend whispered through the halls of hockey history.

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The 1981-82 Islanders unleashed a hockey blizzard, burying opponents under a 15-game avalanche from January to February. Fueled by Bryan Trottier’s magic touch and Billy Smith’s brick-wall goaltending, they outscored everyone in their path, rewriting the record books.

Above the Blue Line Wins

There are a couple of teams so far that went beyond the fifteen game win streak.

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In the frigid winter of 2017, the Columbus Blue Jackets defied expectations with a scorching 16-game win streak, rewriting franchise history and captivating the hockey world. Fueled by clutch offense and stingy defense, they climbed the ranks, silencing doubters and igniting fan frenzy. Though they fell one game short of matching the NHL record, their fiery run remains a testament to their grit and forever burns bright in Jackets lore. It was a genuine team effort, as Cam Atkinson was the only Jacket to score more than 30 goals that season.

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In the spring of ’93, the Pittsburgh Penguins unleashed a firestorm on the ice. Mario Lemieux, healthy and hungry, led the charge as they ripped through 17 straight wins, a franchise record, and the NHL’s gold standard. Opponents withered under the Pens’ offensive onslaught from Boston to Vancouver, culminating in a record-setting 96 goals while silencing doubters and propelling them toward another Stanley Cup run. 

Other Long Streaks

Speaking of the Penguins, the Pittsburgh Club holds an NHL-record total of 14 straight playoff game wins. That streak started in the 1992 post-season and concluded in the 1993 playoffs.

A record for ties included in win streaks brings us the longest in the NHL’s over one-hundred-year history! The 1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers hold an unbeaten streak of 35 straight games.

As you can see, hockey doesn’t get much better than these ice squads reeling off win after win.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2024 at 3:31 pm and is filed under NHL History, Top NHL Lists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.