Tales to Astonish NHL
The longest futility streak in NHL history belongs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins hold the record for the longest road winless streak against a single opponent.
The Pens went winless at the Spectrum in Philadelphia for an astounding 42 games. The futility streak began on February 7, 1974, in a 5-4 loss to the Flyers, the streak would last until February 2, 1989, when they finally exorcized their demon with a 5-3 win on Flyers home ice. During this time period, the Pens went 0-39-3 at the Spectrum. Their last win on Spectrum ice before the streak began was a 5-3 win on January 20, 1974, and their last loss before ending the streak was on December 8, 1988, in a 4-3 decision.
The first game ever played between the Pennsylvania rivals was on October 19, 1967, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia; the Flyers won that game 1-0 on a goal by Bill Sutherland at 2:59 of the third period. Doug Favell stopped all 17 shots he faced while Les Binkley stopped 21 of 22 shots in a losing effort.
From 1967 to 1989 the Philadelphia Flyers boasted an 86-36-19 record against Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia Flyers 35-game unbeaten Streak (Tales to Astonish NHL)
From October 13, 1979, until January 7, 1980, the Philadelphia Flyers would compile the longest unbeaten streak in North American Sports History beating the previous record of 28 games without a loss set by the 1977-78 Montreal Canadians. After opening the season with a 5-2 win over the visiting New York Islanders the Flyers would drop their first game of the season, a 9-2 road decision to the Atlanta Flames on October 13, 1979. The next night the Flyers began a remarkable unbeaten streak with a 4-3 home win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The streak came to an end on January 7, 1980, in a 7-1 loss on the road to the Minnesota North Stars. In that time frame, the Flyers went 25-0-10.
Pat Quinn coached the Flyers to a 48-12-20 record that season, good for first place in the NHL. During the streak, the Flyers had consecutive win streaks of 9 games once, 6 games once, 4 games three times, and 2 three-game streaks. During the 1980 Stanley Cup playoffs the Philadelphia Flyers steam-rolled through the opposition, beating Edmonton 3-0, New York Rangers 4-1, Minnesota North Stars 4-1 before losing in the Stanley Cup Finals 4-2 to the New York Islanders, two of those losses went to overtime (game 1 and game 6).
Glenn Hall’s Consecutive Game Streak (Tales to Astonish NHL)
Glenn Hall “Mr. Goalie” compiled the most impressive Iron-man streak for a netminder. Between 1955-56 and 1962-63, Glenn Hall started in and completed 502 regular-season games in succession and he did it in an era where goalies did not wear a face mask for protection in addition to this he also completed 49 straight playoff games for a mind-boggling 551 games played during his iron-man streak.
Hall’s iron-man streak came to an end 12 games into the 1962-63 season when he suffered an off-ice injury, while tying up his pads before a game against the Boston Bruins, he tweaked a muscle in his back. Hall started the game anyway but was forced to leave the game after succumbing to back pain.
Hall broke into the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in 1952 and was called upon as a backup for the playoffs, although he didn’t play the Red Wings still put his name on the cup. He would eventually assume the role of starting goalie from legend Terry Sawchuk in the 1955-56 season, in his first full season with the Wings he would play in every game and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 1956.
Upon completion of his second full season with the Detroit Red Wings Hall was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks along with Ted Lindsay. In 1961 he would win his first Stanley Cup as the starter for the Blackhawks. It was widely rumored that Hall would throw up before games due to nervous tension. He would win a third Stanley Cup as a goaltending coach with the Calgary Flames after defeating the Montreal Canadians in six games of the 1989 Stanley Final.
Mr. Goalie would play the last four years of his NHL career with the expansion St. Louis Blues, leading them to the Stanley Cup final against the heavily favored Montreal Canadians in 1968. The Blues lost the series in four one-goal games two of them needing overtime, for his efforts Hall was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, an award that is rarely given to a player on the losing team.
Awards and achievements
- Calder Memorial Trophy Winner in 1956.
- Played in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, and 1969 NHL All-Star Games.
- Selected to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1966, and 1969.
- Selected to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1956, 1961, 1962, and 1967.
- Vezina Trophy Winner in 1963, 1967, and 1969.
- Conn Smythe Trophy Winner in 1968.
- Stanley Cup Championship in 1961, and 1989 (as goaltender coach).
- Holds NHL record for most consecutive games started by a goaltender with 502 games.[
- Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
- In 1998, he was ranked number 16 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
- In January, 2017, Hall was part of the first group of players to be named one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history.
Keep Your Stick on the Ice.
Tales to Astonish NHL
