The Anaheim Ducks embarked on something special, something so rare in the NHL, they are only the 2nd team in NHL history to win 18 of 19 games, joining only the 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens.
In the last 21 games, the Anaheim Ducks have gone 18-2-1, including impressive victories over the St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.
Since the Ducks lost to the Sharks on Dec. 29, they have gone 8-1, including 8 straight wins, the longest active streak in the league at the time. They also had a 10-game winning streak from Dec. 6- Dec. 28. During this remarkable unbeaten run, Anaheim also set several franchise records.
The Ducks are the fifth team in 40 NHL seasons (since 1973-74) to record points in each of their first 22+ home games of a season. This is the longest home standings point streak in club history, surpassing the previous streak of 14. The Ducks 20-0-2 home record is tied for third among the longest home streaks from the start of the season. The 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers own the record with 26 straight.
In the 9-1 rout over the Canucks Wednesday night at Honda Center, Anaheim set franchise records for most goals (9) in a game and most power-play goals, with 6, against the NHL’s top-ranked penalty killing unit. The Ducks scored 5+ goals for the 15th time this season, accounting for 31% of games.
So how does the Ducks incredible 20-game stretch match up with the 5 best in NHL history?
At 18-1-1 (37 points), the Ducks were tied for 2nd in history with four other teams. But, according to Elias Sports Bureau, this segment doesn’t match up to the best 20-game stretches in league history if we take into consideration the pre-overtime/pre-shootout era.
The Ducks have just 14 regulation wins (one regulation loss); three more came in overtime; and one came in a shootout (including one loss to the Los Angeles Kings). So if the Ducks were playing during the pre-1983 rules, in which games deadlocked after 60 minutes ended in a tie, the Ducks would be 14-1-5 (33 points) and if this was the overtime/pre-2005 shootout rules, Ducks would be 17-1-2 (36 points).
5. 1944-45 Montreal Canadiens (18-1-1=37 points)
Let’s travel back when only the Original Six existed. The ’44-45 Canadiens are one of four teams to record 37 points over a 20-game stretch in NHL history. After a year removed from winning the Stanley Cup, this team looked as though they could repeat as champions with a 18-1-1 stretch during the season, between Dec. 16, 1944 and Feb. 10, 1945. On top of that, Canadien forward Maurice Richard became the first in NHL history to score 50 goals in 50 games. Despite winning the regular season title by 13 points with 38-8-4 record, they were ousted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the semifinals (4-2).
4. 1972-73 Boston Bruins (18-1-1=37 points)
The Bruins possessed one of the best teams in the league with the highest-scoring forward (Phil Esposito – 55 goals) and highest-scoring defenseman (Bobby Orr – 29 goals) in the league. Their dominant 18-1-1 run between Nov. 16, 1972 and Jan. 1, 1973 got them on this list. They won 18 games in regulations (one loss) and one tie. The Bruins historical run was the only memorable part of their season as they finished 2nd (51-22-5) behind the eventual Stanley Cup Champions – Montreal Canadiens and they were embarrassed in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Rangers (4-1).
3. 1981-82 New York Islanders (18-1-1=37 points)
In just their 10th season, the Islanders were the best in the NHL. This team won its 2nd of four consecutive Stanley Cups. They finished first in their division (54-16-10). At the same token, they set a NHL record run by winning 15 consecutive games in regulation from Jan. 21 – Feb. 5, 1982. Eventually, this record was surpassed in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Penguins 17-consecutive wins (two came in overtime). Between Jan. 21 and Mar. 2, the Islanders tied for 2nd for the NHL best 20-game stretch in which they won 18 regulation games (and one loss); and one tie because the overtime rules were not adopted. No wonder the Islanders cruised passed the Vancouver Canucks in four games to hoist Lord Stanley two years in a row.
2. 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (18-1-1, 37 points)
Red Wings have proven they are an elite franchise in the NHL. The ’95-96 squad contributed to the argument with a record-setting season. This team won 62 games, eclipsing the most regular season wins set by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens. The Red Wings 131 points during the regular season is 2nd all-time in NHL history behind ’76-77 Canadiens record of 132 points. During this record-setting season, the Red Wings put on an impressive segment between Nov. 4 – Dec. 26, 1995 in which they won 18 games in regulation; one came in overtime (one OT loss); and one loss in regulation. They also managed another 13-game unbeaten streak (Mar.3 – Mar.31, 1996) where they went 12-0-1. They were the only team to score in all 82 games. Despite winning the President’s Trophy, Detroit lost in the Western Conference Finals to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, Colorado Avalanche.
1. 1967-68 Montreal Canadiens (19-1-0 for 38 points)
This stretch remains the best of any team in that number of games. Canadiens have had many dynasties since they were founded in 1902, especially during the ‘50s and ‘70s, but this ’67-68 team arguably was one of the most dominant as they went on to win Montreal’s 15th Stanley Cup. Their uncanny 19-1 run between Jan. 6 and Feb. 22, 1968 erupted them to finish first in the East Division. They are also the only team in NHL history to go unbeaten in 20-out-of-21 games between January and February. They went on to sweep the St. Louis Blues 4-0 in the Finals.
Also, seven more teams had 36 points; two were 16-0-4 including the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers who hold the NHL record for longest unbeaten streak of 35 (25-0-10) and five teams went 17-1-2. (Elias Sports Bureau).
It’s difficult to forget Chicago Blackhawk’s magical start to last year’s shortened season in which they went 24 games unbeaten in regulation. Yet their 20-game segment to start the season (17-0-3, 37 points) doesn’t crack the top 10 in history when we consider the rule changes.
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