Edmonton Oilers might be a part of longest sports activities profitable streaks

The Edmonton Oilers would possibly by no means lose once more.

No less than that is the way it seems proper now, as they’re on a 16-game profitable streak heading into their recreation towards the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET, Hulu/ESPN+). In the event that they win, they will tie the all-time NHL document of 17, set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins — and so they’ll have an opportunity to interrupt the document towards the Anaheim Geese on Feb. 9.

It is a huge turnaround for the Oilers, who misplaced 10 of their first 12 video games and had been solely 13-15-1 earlier than the streak began. They’re third within the Pacific Division and appear to have unlocked their full potential in what’s proving to be a magical season.

With the Oilers seeking to make historical past, we had been reminded of different biggest single-season profitable streaks throughout sports activities.

NHL: 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins (17 video games)

The Penguins missed Mario Lemieux for a part of the season due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma, however his return impressed them to greatness. Lemieux had 51 factors in the course of the Penguins’ streak — 20 greater than Adam Oates, the next-highest participant. Pittsburgh scored 10 targets in a recreation twice in that span, with Lemieux contributing 5 targets of their 10-4 win towards the New York Rangers. The streak ended with a 6-6 OT tie towards the New Jersey Devils within the regular-season finale. Pittsburgh went on to be upset by the New York Islanders in a seven-game second-round playoff sequence.

Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich — the ’71-’72 Lakers had been loaded with legends, and it confirmed. Los Angeles averaged 123.3 factors per recreation throughout their streak, probably the most within the NBA on the time. They gained 8 video games by 20+ factors, 2 by 40+ factors, and 23 in whole by double digits. Surprisingly, the loss that broke the streak — a 120-104 defeat to the Milwaukee Bucks — really sparked a 2-4 skid. But it surely was only a blip on the radar — the Lakers went 69-13, a mark that will stand till the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls went 72-10, and gained an NBA title in 5 video games.

What occurs while you pair Tom Brady and Randy Moss on the identical staff? Greatness, bordering on absurdity. Moss caught 23 landing passes from Brady, breaking Jerry Rice’s document of twenty-two. Brady grew to become the primary quarterback ever to throw for 50 touchdowns in a season. The Patriots as a complete scored 589 factors, a document that will stand till the 2013 Broncos surpassed it with 606. Sadly for Patriots followers, this season is extra recognized for the way it ended, with a shocking loss to the New York Giants in Tremendous Bowl XLII.

The Spider caught lots of flies in his unimaginable UFC profession. He hit the bottom working, profitable his first 16 matches in trendy and epic vogue. Silva had 10 straight title defenses throughout this era, the second-longest streak in UFC historical past behind Demetrious Johnson. He beat Wealthy Franklin and Chael Sonnen twice every, together with wins over Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort. Silva finally misplaced in spectacular vogue towards Chris Weidman, ending his streak.

Lisa Leslie went off in the course of the Sparks’ dominant run, averaging 21.2 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.8 APG. The Sparks, as a complete, averaged 80 PPG in the course of the streak, nearly 9 factors larger than the next-best staff (Sacramento Monarchs at 71.6). Their level differential of 11.8 was over 5 factors per recreation higher than some other staff in that span. Their streak led to heartbreaking vogue, with Adrienne Goodson hitting a go-ahead shot with .1 seconds remaining to present the Utah Starzz an 80-78 win.

Faculty soccer: 1894 Yale Bulldogs(16-0)

We now have to go all the best way again to the nineteenth century for this one. The Bulldogs outscored their opponents an astounding 485-13 in the course of the streak, shutting out 13 of their 16 opponents. George Adee, their beginning quarterback, can also be a member of the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame. In the event you’re searching for extra trendy streaks, the 2018 Clemson Tigers, 2019 LSU Tigers, 2022 Georgia Bulldogs and 2023 Michigan Wolverines all went 15-0.

Ladies’s faculty basketball: 2011-12 Baylor Bears and 2013-14 UConn Huskies (40 video games)

Whereas there have been different undefeated seasons in girls’s faculty basketball, no different staff achieved the feat in a 40-game season like Baylor and UConn did. A particular observe for the Huskies — their 2013-14 undefeated marketing campaign was half of a bigger undefeated run of 111 video games that lasted from Nov. 23, 2014, to March 27, 2017.

Males’s faculty basketball: 2014-15 Kentucky Wildcats (38 video games)

This staff was loaded with future NBA expertise. 9 gamers on the Wildcats’ roster later performed within the NBA, together with Karl-Anthony Cities, Devin Booker, Willie Cauley-Stein and Trey Lyles. They tied the single-season Division I document for wins in a season with the 2012 Kentucky squad and 2008 Memphis Tigers (later vacated). All of these groups had been coached by John Calipari, by the by. Their solely loss got here towards the Wisconsin Badgers within the Remaining 4.

5 of Nelson’s 11 wins got here by not less than 5 photographs. One in every of his wins was the 1945 PGA Championship — the lone main performed that season due to World Battle II. The longest streak since Nelson’s feat? Tiger Woods, with seven straight wins in 2006-7.