Can Red Wings Extend Playoff Series Win Streak?

The National Hockey League playoffs begin with three of the eight first-round series' dropping the puck tonight. The Detroit Red Wings will be looking to extend their current streak of winning at least one playoff series to six consecutive years.

They are, however, as the No. 5 seed, the underdog in their series against fourth-seeded Nashville.

Following is a look at how many seasons each NHL team has won at least one playoff series in the past 25 years (since 1986).

Seasons with one playoff series win (1986-2011), Teams:

16: Detroit

13: Montreal

12: Pittsburgh

11: Philadelphia, St. Louis

10: Boston, Colorado, San Jose

9: Edmonton, New Jersey, N.Y. Rangers, Toronto, Vancouver

8: Dallas, Washington

7: Buffalo, Chicago

5: Anaheim, Los Angeles, Ottawa

4: Calgary, Carolina

3: Tampa Bay

2: N.Y Islanders

1: Florida, Minnesota, Nashville, Phoenix

0: Columbus, Winnipeg

Note: Of the teams that have won a playoff series in the last 25 years, three franchises—Florida, the N.Y. Islanders and Phoenix—have not won a playoff series this century. Florida last won a playoff series in 1996; the Isles last won a series in 1993; and the Phoenix franchise last won a playoff series in 1987.

Did you know Detroit and San Jose have each won a playoff series in eight years in this century. They are followed by Colorado and Philadelphia (six each) and the N.J. Devils, Pittsburgh and Vancouver (five each).

Not only does Detroit lead the NHL with five straight seasons with at least one playoff series win, but it also leads all of professional sports in that same category. Here are the major sports teams that have a current streak of winning at least one playoff series (or game, in the case of the NFL) in three straight seasons (or more).

Current streak of winning at least one playoff series, Team

5: Detroit Red Wings

4: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Baltimore Ravens

3: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks

Note: The Texas Rangers were the only MLB team to have won a playoff series in both 2010 and 2011.