The Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of tying history. After a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday, the Oilers can tie the NHL record for the longest winning streak with what would be their 17th consecutive victory on Feb. 6, but no matter how many games they win, this streak can’t be the highlight of their season.
The 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins own the record. Even if the Oilers do match the Penguins’ mark, there’s still something they will have to achieve to allow their streak to be held in high regard.
The Mario Lemieux-led Penguins were coming off winning back-to-back Stanley Cups, something no Oilers team has accomplished since long before Connor McDavid was even born. McDavid was born in 1997, seven years after Edmonton’s last title. Despite breaking the winning streak record, Pittsburgh failed to three-peat that season, being eliminated in upset fashion at the hands of the New York Islanders in seven games. However, most of that roster had already lifted Lord Stanley’s Cup by that point.
McDavid and his Oilers have been close, but have yet to even get over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Final itself. The Oilers’ last Cup Final appearance came back when McDavid was just nine in 2006. Edmonton was on the brink two years ago, falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals.
