In his previous three seasons, Vancouver defenseman Adrian Aucoin has never scored more than five goals a year. Aucoin scored a power-play goal during a 5-2 loss Saturday in San Jose to boost his season total to 23, tops among blueliners. Aucoin’s next goal will break a tie for the single-season best for defensemen over the last four seasons. The competition:
Defenseman Team Season Goals
Adrian Aucoin Vancouver 1998-99 23
Rob Blake Los Angeles 1997-98 23
Sandis Ozolinsh Colorado 1996-97 23
Sergei Gonchar Washington 1998-99 20
Brian Leetch NY Rangers 1996-97 20
Ray Bourque Boston 1995-96 20
Gary Suter Blackhawks 1995-96 20
Al MacInnis St. Louis 1998-99 19
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BLAZING THE TRAIL
St. Louis will be making its 20th consecutive playoff appearance this spring to lead all current NHL clubs. Detroit and Pittsburgh (9 years) followed by Colorado and Philadelphia (5 years) currently hold the next longest consecutive playoff appearances. The Blues have moved into a fifth place tie on the all-time list:
Team Consecutive Seasons
Boston Bruins 29 (1968-96)
Chicago Blackhawks 28 (1970-97)
Montreal Canadiens 24 (1971-94)
Montreal Canadiens 21 (1949-69)
Detroit Red Wings 20 (1939-58)
St. Louis Blues 20 (1980-99)
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AS BAD AS IT GETS
By coming out on the short end of a 6-4 decision Wednesday in Dallas, Tampa Bay became the 39th team in NHL history and the 15th team this decade to reach the 50-loss mark in a season. Even though the Lightning has reached the 50-loss mark for the third time in its seven-year history, it has never lost 60 games, a distinction reserved for six teams:
Team Losses Season
San Jose 71 1992-93
Ottawa 70 1992-93
Washington 67 1974-75
Ottawa 61 1993-94
Quebec 61 1989-90
NY Islanders 60 1972-73
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