Mitch Marner extended his point streak to 19 games on Saturday night, breaking the Toronto Maple Leafs franchise record.
The 25-year-old scored two goals in a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, setting a new franchise record for points scored in consecutive NHL games. Marner tied the previous record of 18 on Wednesday during a 3-1 win against San Jose Sharks, and the former record holders reached out to the winger.
Darryl Sittler and Eddie Olczyk shared the previous record, and congratulated Marner on joining the club. But he's now clear in top spot, and hoping to extend his incredible run.
It may not have been the perfect day for Marner and the Maple Leafs, but it was certainly a special moment for the star that grew up in Vaughan, Ontario. "It’s cool," Marner said. "I grew up in the city.
"I love being part of this team now days. It’s special to me. It’s special growing up to watch this team play hockey. Now to have my name on something amazing, it’s hard to describe."
And the 25-year-old revealed that ahead of the record breaking game he was contacted by the previous record holders. "It was cool having those two legends reach out and congratulate me," he said.
"If you would have told me growing up that this would happen, I don’t think I would have believed you." Sittler originally set the record in during the 1977-78 season before it was matched by Eddie Olczyk in 1989-90.
But now Marner holds the franchise record to himself, although there is one superstar that is unsurprisingly clear at the top of the NHL list. Wayne Gretzky holds the record for points in consecutive NHL games, with 51 in a row for the Edmonton Oilers during the 1983-84 season.
On the all-time NHL list, Gretzky's name actually features twice within the top three, as he went on a streak of 39-straight games with a point scored in the 1985-86 season. His two records are either side of Mario Lemiuex's tally of 46 during the 1989-90 season.
Marner's achievements have been celebrated by star forward Auston Matthews, who thinks that his team-mate is 'playing awesome' this season. "He's all over pucks offensively, defensively," Matthews said.
"Just the back pressure, picking guys’ pockets, and turning and going the other way — I think that's a pretty big thing you notice, especially when he's really rolling. Right now, he's really rolling. He’s just been playing awesome."
