The 2013 Chicago Blackhawks are gaining ground on the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers.
The Blackhawks have gone 24 games without a regulation loss to begin the regular season, and dating back to last March, have gone 30 games without a regulation loss. The Blackhawks are now five back of the record - held by the aforementioned Flyers - as they visit the Colorado Avalanche tonight.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, who played for Philadelphia in those record-setting days, can’t help but be amazed at what the Blackhawks are doing.
“It’s probably a more difficult task now because of the parity in the League,” Holmgren told NHL.com.
“There were teams [in 1979-80] that weren’t great. The parity in the League today makes it very difficult to do what they’re doing and makes it more incredible than anything.
“It’s a different era. I think what they’ve done … it’s a more difficult thing to do today.”
Even more difficult, perhaps, given the injury situation in Chicago.
Patrick Sharp will be out of the Blackhawks lineup for three to four weeks with a separated shoulder.
Marian Hossa, who was a late scratch in Wednesday’s game against Colorado, will be back in the lineup tonight, amid speculation he was held out of the game with a concussion.