April 10, 1993: Ottawa Senators snap NHL-record 38-game road losing streak

The most interesting regular-season day in modern NHL history had to be April 10, 1993 – 27 years ago today. Let's start with that season's Ottawa Senators, who belong on the short list of worst single-season teams in NHL history. That club finished with 10 wins, 70 losses and four ties; yes, there were ties back then and teams played 84 games instead of 82. Maybe the only team worse in league history was the 1974-75 Washington Capitals, who finished 8-67-5.

The Senators entered their April 10 game at the Islanders on a 14-game losing streak overall and an unthinkable 38-game road losing streak – they hadn't won an away game all season. Shoot, they hadn't even tied one.

However, Ottawa won that night on Long Island, 5-3, thanks to three third-period goals. Laurie Boschman scored the winner at 19:04 of the third and added an empty-netter with a second left. The previous record road losing streak had been 37 by those '74-75 Caps. The Sens, incidentally, lost their final two road games to finish the year 1-41-0 outside of Ottawa.

Also, on April 10, 1993, the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by all-time great Mario Lemieux, won their NHL-record 17th game in a row, a 4-2 home decision over the New York Rangers in the penultimate game of the regular season. Pittsburgh would tie the Devils in New Jersey to complete the regular season to see the streak end. That Penguins team was coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup titles but would be upset by Islanders in the conference semifinals.

The previous NHL record winning streak had been 15 in a row by the 1981-82 Islanders. The 2016-17 Columbus Blue Jackets won 16 straight, but the Jackets lost 5-0 at the Capitals on Jan. 5, 2017, to come up one game shy of tying Pittsburgh's mark.

At William Hill sportsbook, the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are favored to win this season's Stanley Cup if the NHL can stage a postseason.