The Detroit Red Wings currently sit dead last in the Atlantic Division, and for the first time since 1989–90, the team will miss out on post-season action in the National Hockey League.
But the Red Wings’ 25-season stretch of playoff appearances isn’t the only streak that will soon come to an end. Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg currently holds the longest active streak of Stanley Cup Playoff appearances in the league.
Here’s a look at the Top 5 active individual playoff streaks in the NHL (with a minimum of one game played), and whether those streaks are likely to be snapped next month:
No. 1: Henrik Zetterberg – 13 seasons
Zetterberg’s streak began in the 2002–03 season. That year, Detroit was swept by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the conference quarterfinals.
Over the course of his 13 consecutive appearances, the Swedish forward has tallied 120 points, with 57 goals and 63 assists through 137 games played. His best playoff performance came in 2008, when he won the Stanley Cup and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy.
No. 2: Paul Martin – 12 seasons
Martin’s streak is one season shy of Zetterberg’s: The San Jose Sharks defenceman has played in 12 consecutive playoffs. The 36-year-old has appeared in 109 playoff games, notching five goals, 40 assists and 38 PIM. He’s made it as far as Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final — last year, San Jose lost in six to Martin’s former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.
While Martin has never won a Cup, he’s set to extend his streak with the Pacific Division–leading Sharks.
No. 3: Chris Kunitz – 11 seasons
Kunitz’s streak began in the 2005–06 season with Anaheim. The left-winger has appeared in 141 playoff games, posting 81 points with 25 goals and 56 assists.
The Regina native first hoisted the Cup in 2007 with the Ducks. He won two more with Pittsburgh, his current team, and like Martin, his playoff-appearance streak is set to continue.
No. 4: Valtteri Filppula – 10 seasons
Drafted 95th overall by the Red Wings in 2002, Filppula appeared in 105 playoff games for Detroit between 2006–07 and 2012–13. He continued his streak for three years with the Lightning, and across 152 playoff games in his 10-year streak, the Finnish forward has tallied 79 points with 24 goals and 55 assists. He’s won the Cup once, with the Red Wings in 2008; Filppula scored the second of three goals in Detroit’s 3–2 win over Pittsburgh in Game 6 of the final.
Sadly, his streak is set to end this spring. The 32-year-old was traded from Tampa Bay to Philadelphia at the deadline, and the Flyers sit seventh in the Metropolitan Division with 74 points through 72 games.
No. 5: Marc-Andre Fleury – 10 seasons
The youngest player on this list, 32-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury should extend his streak with the Penguins, even if he’s no longer Pittsburgh’s No. 1. The goaltender was at the centre of trade rumours ahead of the deadline but ended up staying put.
Fleury has started 98 playoff games and has made 100 appearances total. He’s posted a save percentage of .906 across his 10-year post-season streak, with eight shutouts and a goals-against average of 2.66. The native of Sorel-Tracy, Que., has won two Cups with the Penguins, in 2009 and 2016.
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