Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks can make history Saturday night, against the Los Angeles Kings. If he has a goal or an assist in tonight’s game, he will hold the record for the longest point streak at 19 games for an American-born player.
Currently, he is tied at 18 games with Ed Olczyk of the 1989-1990 Toronto Maple Leafs (and former Chicago Blackhawk) and Phil Kessel of the 2008-2009 Boston Bruins. In Blackhawks history, he is now tied with Hall-of-Famers Denis Savard of the 1981-1982 Blackhawks and Clint Smith of the 1943-1944 Blackhawks. He has already surpassed Chris Chelios, who holds a 15-game point streak.
Kane’s scoring streak began on October 17th against the Columbus Blue Jackets, in which he scored a goal. Since then, he has amassed ten goals and 19 assists, for 29 points in just 18 games. Three of those goals were also game-winners.
Kane also had a seven-game goal streak that began November 15th against the Calgary Flames and ended November 2nd against the Kings. The game in which he scored the most points was on November 8th against the Edmonton Oilers with one goal and three assists for four points. He has scored in 21 of the 23 Blackhawks’ games. The only two games in which he did not notch a point came immediately prior to his streak.
The Blackhawks have benefitted from Kane’s streak, as they are 11-5-2 in the 18-game stretch. Although they may not win every game in which he makes it on the score sheet, it clearly serves as a strong indication that a victory will be in the cards. On their road trip thus far, they are 3-1-1, and Kane has seven points.
The NHL has not seen a point streak like Kane’s since Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins had a 25-game point streak in the 2010-2011 season. If Kane’s streak continues, he is a mere three games shy of tying Bobby Hull (21) for the longest point streak in Blackhawks history. Whether or not Kane scores in tonight’s game, he is already in the record books at age 27.
“He could be the best American player of all time, and he’s still young. But he continues to do so many things and be that sort of game changer he’s been his whole career.” ~Corey Crawford
Though, Kane will have a long way to go in order to beat the longest streak in the NHL. One that might be untouchable, along with a number of records set by the ‘Great One’, Wayne Gretzky.