NHL 3 Stars: Keeping the streaks alive
Each night, EP Rinkside typically writes about the night’s top performances but this is a little different. Instead of taking a look at individual production on the ice, I’m taking a look at the top record-setting streaks that continued on Monday around the league.
First star
Wild unstoppable at home
The Minnesota Wild are 9-0-0 in their last nine games at home. They haven’t lost on home ice since Jan. 30 and have outscored their opponents 30-12.
Due to the team’s COVID outbreak earlier this season, they have spent the majority of the first half on the road. When the league rearranged their schedule, it has given them several home games in the month of March — six so far and two more this week.
A 2-1 win over Anaheim on Monday night eclipsed the previous mark of eight which was set during the 2016-17 season.
This whole sequence was WILD. ?
— NHL on NBC Sports (@NHLonNBCSports) March 23, 2021
The #mnwild have taken the lead! pic.twitter.com/AkprorzARv
Second star
Sorokin steals one for Islanders
Barry Trotz described Ilya Sorokin’s 38-save performance on Monday as, “Larceny.”
The rookie opened the season 0-2-1 and since then, he has won eight straight. With each win, he pads his club record for consecutive victories by a rookie. He is also leading the East with a 1.97 goals against and a .922 save percentage.
“We’ve got a really good group, a mature group, that just said - if we win the period, we get points. I’m all about collecting points. We were able to get it to one and then we were fortunate to get the second one.”
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 23, 2021
Trotz ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/DZwqgeahSE
Third star
Hamilton extends point streak
With a secondary assist at 8:58 of the second period, Carolina defenceman Dougie Hamilton extended his point streak to 12 games (two goals, 12 assists). The point surprised Mark Howe for the Carolina/Hartford franchise record for the longest point streak by a defenseman.
Aho and Necas teaming up for a goal?
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) March 23, 2021
Unheard of pic.twitter.com/bU3e5RYx5i
Honourable mention
Marleau reaches fourth-longest Ironman milestone
San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau skated in his 884th consecutive hockey game on Monday night. He has not missed a regular-season game since April 9, 2009.
He is now tied with Steve Larmer for fourth and is chasing down an active Keith Yandle at 897 for third. Garry Unger sits in second with 914 and Doug Jarvis holds the record at 964.
Patrick Marleau (@SanJoseSharks) is set to skate in his 884th consecutive game and tie Steve Larmer for the fourth-longest “Ironman” streak in NHL history. #NHLStats: https://t.co/reIzrDlYRq
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 22, 2021
?: SJS vs. LAK at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBCSCA, FS-W pic.twitter.com/9Jg0XUvwqb
Dishonourable mention
Sabres lose 14th in a row
The Buffalo Sabres are skidding towards a collision with the NHL’s record for longest streak that was set by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2003-04 season when the Penguins lost 18 consecutive games.
However, the Sabres have matched the longest losing streak in the NHL since the shootout was introduced in 2005-06. The last team to go 0-12-2 in 14 games? You guessed it. The Buffalo Sabres did in 2014-15.
I appreciated this response from Don Granato #Sabres pic.twitter.com/NbUj6j4GJq
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) March 23, 2021
