Patrick Kane’s scoring streak is now at 19 games and he has set a new record for American players.
But Kane still has a long way to go to catch the top 10 point streaks in NHL history, a list that is as good a reminder as any of how high-scoring the league used to be.
#10-6: 28 GAMES
1985-86 Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers – 16G 39A 55PTS
In 28 games Coffey put together enough points to have finished tied for fifth in the NHL last year in points and goals scored by a defenceman. Of course, he finished the year with an NHL-record for goals by a defenceman with 48 goals, but wasn’t able to break Bobby Orr’s record for points, with only 138 to No. 4’s 139.
1985-86 Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins – 21G 38A 59PTS
Lemieux will show up on this list again, but it’s worth mentioning that this was just his sophomore year in the NHL. He’d finish the season with 141 points, more than anyone but Gretzky.
1976-77 Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens – 19G 42A 61PTS
The only entry from the seventies, Lafleur set a career-high in assists and points finishing the year with 80 and 136, leading the league. His 56 goals were second only to teammate Steve Shutt. The Canadiens would win their second of four straight Stanley Cups that year.
1984-85 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers – 20G 43A 63PTS
The first of four appearances on this list. Gretzky had himself an alright season finishing with 208 points that year.
1988-89 Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings – 29G 36A 65PTS
Yzerman’s most successful offensive year saw him put up the highest scoring of all the 28-game streaks. He’d finish the year with 155 points setting career highs in goals (65) and assists (90). The Red Wings won the Norris Division that year with just 80 points, which would have had them no higher than fourth in any other division. They had a goal differential of minus-three.
#5-4: 30 GAMES
1992-93 Mats Sundin, Quebec Nordiques – 21G 25A 46PTS
Sundin checks in as the only non-Canadian to make the list. He also manages to have the lowest points per game average of any of these streaks at a measly 1.53. He’d finish the season breaking 100 points for the only time in his career (114), scoring 47 goals.
1982-83 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers – 24G 52A 76PTS
Now that’s how you put up a 30 point streak. In the third year of his seven straight Art Ross-winning seasons, The Great One would finish with 196 points.
#3: 39 GAMES
1985-86 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers – 33G 75A 108 PTS
Hey, look who it is. Gretzky put up enough points in 39 games to have finished ninth in scoring that year. He’d end up with the NHL record for assists and points in a season with 163 and 215 respectively.
#2: 46 GAMES
1989-90 Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins – 39G 64A 103PTS
This streak is probably best remembered for how it ended, with Lemieux having to leave a game with the first of many back issues. He played the first two periods of that game, and would have had an assist had John Cullen not hit the post on a rebound set up by Lemieux. He’d miss 21 games that season but still finish with 123 points.
#1: 51 GAMES
1983-84 Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers – 61G 92A 153PTS
And so we come to one of the most unbreakable records in sports. Also the highest points per game average at 3. Only 15 guys have ever scored 61 goals in a season, while Yzerman and Lemieux are the only ones to ever break 153 points. This was also the year the Oilers finally broke through to win the Stanley Cup.
