Blackhawks still yet to lose in regulation as unbeaten run stretches to 22.
It took an equalizer from Patrick Kane with 2:02 to play in regulation time but the Chicago Blackhawks stretched their record-best National Hockey League season start to 22 games on Sunday.
Another goal by Kane in the game-deciding shootout gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 victory over host Detroit as Chicago improved to 19-0-3, earning points in every game at the start of a season longer than any club in NHL history.
Over-time or shootout losses in the NHL still result in a point in the standings for the losing team, the same way drawn results did before the league created the shootout to ensure a winner in every contest.
Over two seasons, the Blackhawks have gone 28 games in a row without a loss in regulation time, matching the 1977-78 Montreal Canadiens for the second-longest such overall streak in NHL history.
Chicago can next take aim at the NHL record 35-game point streak established by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1979-80 season.
Detroit nearly ended Chicago’s record run after Slovakian center Tomas Tatar scored 2:43 into the third period to give the Red Wings a 1-0 lead.
But after a scramble for a loose puck in front of the Detroit goal, Kane netted his 11th goal of the season, a power-play marker, to force over-time.
After a scoreless five-minute session, Kane scored the only goal in the penalty shot showdown to give Chicago the triumph.
The Blackhawks, who claimed their ninth victory in a row have not lost a game in regulation time since March 25, 2012. Chicago improved to 8-0-1 in its past nine games at Detroit
Chicago’s Marian Hossa, a Slovakian and former Red Wing, played in his 1,000th career NHL game.
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