5 Most Impressive NHL Team Streaks of All Time

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The Chicago Blackhawks' streak has finally come to an end. 

The Colorado Avalanche handed the Blackhawks their first regulation loss of the season Friday, ending their remarkable 24-game point streak.

With the loss, Chicago now sits 21-1-3 on the season—eight points ahead of the NHL’s next best team, the Anaheim Ducks. 

The Blackhawks' streak started in game one and stretched on for exactly half of the lockout-shortened season. Consistent contributions from the stars and timely plays by the depth players were crucial to keeping the streak alive. 

Given that it's the best start ever to an NHL season, the streak will also hold a special place in NHL history. 

With that said, here are five of the most incredible team streaks of all time. 

Undefeated Streak: 35 (25-0-10) Philadelphia Flyers 1979-80

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The Flyers' undefeated streak is not only an NHL record but a North American professional sports record as well. 

It started in their third game of the season with a 4-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. It ended on January 7, 1980 with a 7-1 loss to the Minnesota North Stars. 

Led by Bobby Clarke, Reggie Leach and Ken Linseman, the Flyers finished 48-12-20, for a league-best 116 points. However, the Flyers fell short in the Stanley Cup final, losing 4-2 to the New York Islanders. 

Winning Streak: 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1992-93

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It was a season of ups and downs for the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

They had won back-to-back Stanley Cups and were off to another great start. However, on January 12, 1993, Mario Lemieux announced he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. Lemieux underwent treatment and missed 24 games, coming back just in time to lead the Penguins on their record winning streak. 

It ultimately ended, not with a loss, but with a 6-6 tie to the New Jersey Devils in the final game of the season. Lemieux captured the Art Ross Trophy with 160 points, despite playing in just 60 regular-season games. 

The Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs in the second round by the New York Islanders.

Consecutive Playoff Appearances: 29 Boston Bruins 1968-1996

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The Detroit Red Wings' current playoff streak spans 21 seasons. That's impressive, but they still have a long way to go to match the mark set by the Bruins between 1968 and 1996. 

It began with a roster featuring the likes of Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Eddie Shack. In the 1970s and ‘80s, Brad Park, Wayne Cashman and Ray Bourque helped prolong the streak. The 1995-96 team was led by Adam Oates, Bourque and Cam Neely, who played in what would be his final NHL season. 

Despite the lengthy streak, the Bruins would only reach their ultimate goal twice, winning the Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. 

Consecutive Playoff Series Wins: 19 New York Islanders 1980-84

Clark Gillies, Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier
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The New York Islanders' astonishing playoff series win streak followed the Montreal Canadiens dynasty of the late ‘70s and preceded the Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the mid to late ‘80s. 

Al Arbour coached a group of Hall of Famers, including Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Denis Potvin and goalie Billy Smith to four consecutive Stanley Cups. Their record in the Stanley Cup final over those four years was a remarkable 16-3. 

The Islanders made it to the Stanley Cup final for a fifth straight year in 1984 but came up short as Gretzky and company avenged their loss from the previous final. 

Consecutive Stanley Cup Championships: 5 Montreal Canadiens 1956-60

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To break the Islanders' record of 19 straight playoff series wins, a team would have to win five consecutive Stanley Cups. And that has only been done once—by the Montreal Canadiens. 

While they only had to win two playoff series to capture the Stanley Cup, Montreal did so in dominating fashion. The Canadiens went 40-9 overall in playoff games over those five years and 20-5 in the Cup final. 

They were coached by Toe Blake, and their roster included NHL legends like Maurice Richard, Jean Beliveau, Doug Harvey and Jacques Plante.