List of National Hockey League longest losing streaks

This is a list of the longest losing streaks in National Hockey League (NHL) history. The list includes streaks that started at the end of one season and carried over into the following season. There are two lists, streaks that consist entirely of regular-season games and streaks made up of playoff games only. The 2003–04 Pittsburgh Penguins and 2020–21 Buffalo Sabres own the record for the longest losing streak in NHL history at 18 games. The 1974–75 Washington Capitals and 1992–93 San Jose Sharks own the NHL record for the longest pointless streak at 17 games; the 2003–04 Penguins' losing streak included one overtime loss, and the 2020–21 Sabres’ losing streak included two overtime and one shootout loss. Since the 1999–2000 season, the NHL awards a team one point for an overtime loss, and since the 2005–06 season, a team also receives one point for a shootout loss.
The 1980–81 Winnipeg Jets own the longest winless streak in NHL history at 30 games. Winnipeg's streak included 23 losses and seven ties.
The Chicago Blackhawks lost an NHL playoff record 16 straight games spanning five trips to the Stanley Cup playoffs between and . Only regular season losing streaks lasting fourteen or more games are included.
Starting with the 2005–06 season, tie games were abolished in favor of a shootout.
==Key==
Italic score	Italic score	Denotes streak ended with a tie
^ 	^ 	Denotes streaks that spanned at least two seasons
 	 	Denotes streaks that are currently in progress
==Losing streaks==
===Regular season===
This list contains only the top streaks consisting entirely of regular-season games.
Rank	Games 	Team 	Season(s) 	Seasonrecord(s)	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Notes
Rank	Games 	Team 	Season(s) 	Seasonrecord(s)	Beginning (first defeat)	Beginning (first defeat)	Beginning (first defeat)	End (first victory or tie)	End (first victory or tie)	End (first victory or tie)	Notes
1 	18 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	2003–04 	23–47–8–4 	January 13, 2004 	1–3 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	February 25, 2004 	4–3 	Phoenix Coyotes 	During this losing streak, the Penguins recorded a point: one for the 2–3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on February 14. Since the 1999–2000 season, a team receives a point for an overtime loss.
1 	18 	Buffalo Sabres 	2020–21 	15–34–7‡ 	February 25, 2021 	3–4 (OT) 	New Jersey Devils 	March 31, 2021 	6–1 	Philadelphia Flyers 	Longest losing streak since shootouts were introduced in the 2005–06 season. During this losing streak, the Sabres recorded three points: one for the overtime loss to the Devils on February 25, two shootout losses against the Flyers, first for a 4–5 shootout loss on March 9, and then the 3–4 overtime loss on March 29).
3 	17 	Washington Capitals 	1974–75 	8–67–5 	February 18, 1975 	1–6 	Los Angeles Kings 	March 28, 1975 	5–3 	California Golden Seals 	Currently tied for the longest losing streak without a point in NHL history.
3 	17 	San Jose Sharks 	1992–93 	11–71–2 	January 4, 1993 	1–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	February 14, 1993 	3–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	Currently tied for the longest losing streak without a point in NHL history. Also part of a 20-game winless streak dating to December 29, 1992.
5 	15 	Philadelphia Quakers 	1930–31 	4–36–4 	November 29, 1930 	3–6 	New York Rangers 	January 10, 1931 	4–3 	Montreal Maroons 	
6 	14(10 + 4)	Chicago Black Hawks 	1927–28^ 1928–29^	7–34–37–29–8 	February 22, 1928 	2–3 	Ottawa Senators 	November 25, 1928 	1–1 	Boston Bruins 	
6 	14 	Kansas City Scouts 	1975–76 	12–56–12 	December 30, 1975 	2–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	January 31, 1976 	4–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	
6 	14 	Detroit Red Wings 	1981–82 	21–47–12 	February 24, 1982 	3–5 	Los Angeles Kings 	March 27, 1982 	2–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	
6 	14 	Quebec Nordiques 	1990–91 	16–50–14 	October 21, 1990 	2–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	November 21, 1990 	4–4 	Hartford Whalers 	
6 	14 	Ottawa Senators 	1992–93 	10–70–4 	March 2, 1993 	2–3 	San Jose Sharks 	April 10, 1993 	5–3 	New York Islanders 	
6 	14 	Carolina Hurricanes 	2009–10 	35–37–10 	October 10, 2009 	2–5 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	November 15, 2009 	5–4 	Minnesota Wild 	During this losing streak, the Hurricanes recorded four points: one for the 2–3 shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on October 14, one for the 3–4 shootout loss to the New York Islanders on October 21, one for the 2–3 overtime loss to the Wild on October 24, and one for the 3–4 overtime loss to the Islanders on November 13.
6 	14 	New York Islanders 	2010–11 	30–39–13 	October 23, 2010 	3–4 	Florida Panthers 	November 26, 2010 	2–0 	New Jersey Devils 	During this losing streak, the Islanders recorded three points: one for the 1–2 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on November 11, one for the 1–2 overtime loss to the Atlanta Thrashers on November 21, and one for the 3–4 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on November 24.
6 	14(6 + 8) 	Columbus Blue Jackets	2010–11^ 2011–12^	34–35–1329–46–7	March 31, 2011 	3–4 	Washington Capitals 	October 25, 2011 	4–1 	Detroit Red Wings 	During this losing streak, the Blue Jackets recorded three points: one for the overtime loss to the Capitals on March 31, one for the 3–4 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on April 1, and one for the 2–3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on October 12.
6 	14 	Buffalo Sabres 	2014–15 	23–51–8 	December 29, 2014 	2–5 	Ottawa Senators 	February 3, 2015 	3–2 	Montreal Canadiens 	During this losing streak, the Sabres did not record a point in the standings.
===Postseason===
This is a list of streaks recorded only in the playoffs. The list only features losing streaks stretched through multiple seasons.
Rank	Games	Team 	Seasonstarted	Seasonended	Numberof years	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Date 	Score 	Opponent
Rank	Games	Team 	Seasonstarted	Seasonended	Numberof years	Beginning (first defeat)	Beginning (first defeat)	Beginning (first defeat)	End (first victory)	End (first victory)	End (first victory)
1 	16 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1974–75 	1979–80 	5 	April 20, 1975 	2–6 	Buffalo Sabres 	April 8, 1980 	3–2 	St. Louis Blues
2 	14 	Los Angeles Kings 	1992–93 	2000–01 	8 	June 3, 1993 	2–3 	Montreal Canadiens 	April 15, 2001 	2–1 	Detroit Red Wings
3 	12 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1978–79 	1982–83 	4 	April 16, 1979 	2–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	April 9, 1983 	6–3 	Minnesota North Stars
4 	11 	Chicago Black Hawks/Blackhawks	1984–85 	1987–88 	3 	May 14, 1985 	5–10 	Edmonton Oilers 	April 9, 1988 	6–3 	St. Louis Blues
5 	10 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1943–44 	1952–53 	9 	April 4, 1944 	1–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	March 29, 1953 	2–1 	Montreal Canadiens
5 	10 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	1953–54 	1955–56 	2 	March 27, 1954 	1–3 	Detroit Red Wings 	March 27, 1956 	2–0 	Detroit Red Wings
5 	10 	New York Rangers 	1967–68 	1969–70 	2 	April 11, 1968 	4–7 	Chicago Black Hawks 	April 11, 1970 	4–3 	Boston Bruins
5 	10 	Philadelphia Flyers 	1967–68 	1972–73 	5 	April 18, 1968 	1–3 	St. Louis Blues 	April 5, 1973 	4–1 	Minnesota North Stars
5 	10 	Chicago Blackhawks 	1991–92 	1993–94 	2 	May 26, 1992 	4–5 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	April 23, 1994 	5–4 	Toronto Maple Leafs
==Winless streaks==
This list includes teams who had the longest winless streaks in NHL history. The streaks include ties, and consists only of regular season games.
Rank	Games	Team 	Season(s) 	Seasonrecord(s)	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Notes
Rank	Games	Team 	Season(s) 	Seasonrecord(s)	Beginning (first defeat or tie)	Beginning (first defeat or tie)	Beginning (first defeat or tie)	End (first victory)	End (first victory)	End (first victory) 	Notes
1 	30 	Winnipeg Jets 	1980–81 	9–57–14 	October 19, 1980 	4–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	December 23, 1980 	5–4 	Colorado Rockies 	Streak included 23 losses and seven ties.
2 	27 	Kansas City Scouts 	1975–76 	12–56–12 	February 12, 1976 	2–2 	New York Islanders 	October 5, 1976 	4–2 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	Streak included 21 losses and six ties.Winless streak was broken in the first game of the 1976–77 season, during which the Scouts relocated to Denver and renamed the Colorado Rockies.
3 	25 	New York Rangers 	1943–44^1944–45^	6–39–511–29–10 	January 23, 1944 	0–15 	Detroit Red Wings 	November 11, 1944 	5–2 	Detroit Red Wings 	Streak included 21 losses and four ties.
3 	25 	Washington Capitals 	1975–76 	11–59–10 	November 29, 1975 	3–5 	Minnesota North Stars 	January 23, 1976 	7–5 	New York Rangers 	Streak included 22 losses and three ties.
5 	23 	Detroit Red Wings 	1976–77^1977–78^	16–55–932–34–14	February 26, 1977 	3–4 	Los Angeles Kings 	October 22, 1977 	4–2 	Minnesota North Stars	Streak included 20 losses and three ties.
6 	21 	Chicago Black Hawks 	1950–51 	13–47–10 	December 17, 1950 	3–7 	Montreal Canadiens 	February 1, 1951 	5–2 	Boston Bruins 	Streak included 18 losses and three ties.
6 	21 	Ottawa Senators 	1992–93 	10–70–4 	October 10, 1992 	2–9 	Quebec Nordiques 	November 25, 1992 	3–1 	New Jersey Devils 	Streak included 18 losses and three ties.
8 	20 	Boston Bruins 	1961–62 	15–47–8 	January 28, 1962 	1–5 	Montreal Canadiens 	March 15, 1962 	4–0 	Detroit Red Wings 	Streak included 16 losses and four ties.
8 	20 	Minnesota North Stars	1969–70 	19–35–22 	January 15, 1970 	1–1 	Oakland Seals 	March 1, 1970 	8–0 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	Streak included 15 losses and five ties.
8 	20 	Washington Capitals 	1977–78 	17–49–14 	October 28, 1977 	1–8 	Colorado Rockies 	December 7, 1977 	5–3 	Cleveland Barons 	Streak included 15 losses and five ties.
8 	20 	San Jose Sharks 	1992–93 	11–71–2 	December 29, 1992 	5–7 	Vancouver Canucks 	February 14, 1993 	3–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	Streak included 19 losses and one tie.
==Pointless streaks==
This list includes all teams with the longest losing streaks without recording a point in NHL history. Starting with the 1999–2000 season, a team also receives a point for an overtime loss or (since 2005) shootout loss. Thus, the only way for modern NHL teams to achieve this dubious record is if all of their losses come in regulation.
Rank	Games 	Team 	Season(s) 	Seasonrecord(s)	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Date 	Score 	Opponent
Rank	Games 	Team 	Season(s) 	Seasonrecord(s)	Beginning (first defeat)	Beginning (first defeat)	Beginning (first defeat)	End (first victory or tie)	End (first victory or tie)	End (first victory or tie)
1 	17 	Washington Capitals 	1974–75 	8–67–5 	February 18, 1975 	1–6 	Los Angeles Kings 	March 28, 1975 	5–3 	California Golden Seals
1 	17 	San Jose Sharks 	1992–93 	11–71–2 	January 4, 1993 	1–4 	Montreal Canadiens 	February 14, 1993 	3–2 	Winnipeg Jets
3 	15 	Philadelphia Quakers	1930–31 	4–36–4 	November 29, 1930 	3–6 	New York Rangers 	January 10, 1931 	4–3 	Montreal Maroons
4 	14(10 + 4)	Chicago Black Hawks 	1927–28^ 1928–29^	7–34–37–29–8 	February 22, 1928 	2–3 	Ottawa Senators 	November 25, 1928 	1–1 	Boston Bruins
4 	14 	Kansas City Scouts 	1975–76 	12–56–12 	December 30, 1975 	2–5 	Vancouver Canucks 	January 31, 1976 	4–4 	Pittsburgh Penguins
4 	14 	Detroit Red Wings 	1981–82 	21–47–12 	February 24, 1982 	3–5 	Los Angeles Kings 	March 27, 1982 	2–1 	Toronto Maple Leafs
4 	14 	Quebec Nordiques 	1990–91 	16–50–14 	October 21, 1990 	2–3 	Vancouver Canucks 	November 21, 1990 	4–4 	Hartford Whalers
4 	14 	Ottawa Senators 	1992–93 	10–70–4 	March 2, 1993 	2–3 	San Jose Sharks 	April 10, 1993 	5–3 	New York Islanders
4 	14 	Buffalo Sabres 	2014–15 	23–51–8 	December 29, 2014 	2–5 	Ottawa Senators 	February 3, 2015 	3–2 	Montreal Canadiens
==See also==
*List of NHL records (team)
*List of National Hockey League longest winning streaks
==Notes==
==References==
==External links==
*NHL Records
*Hockey Reference
Category:National Hockey League statistical records