Red Wings win record 21st straight at home

Red Wings celebrate their 21st win

Never has there been as dominant a team at home in the NHL until the 2011/12 Detroit Red Wings came along.

On Tuesday night the Red Wings beat the Dallas Stars 3-1 for their 21st straight win on home ice to break the single-season mark of 20 set by Boston in the 1929-30 season and equalled by Philadelphia in 1976.

Two goals in the first period from Henrik Zetterberg and Brad Stuart set the tone for the game in front of the 20,066 fans who attended.

"We're thrilled this has happened for our team," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I think it's really good for our logo, it's really good for our ownership, our team. I'm proud of the guys. They've worked hard and now let's get on with it."

Towards the end the crowd chanted, "21! 21!" with the Red Wing players acknowledging their fans by skating towards centre ice and raising their sticks to the crowd which had snapped up every available ticket for the fifty-fifth time in a row.

"This seemed something that was unattainable, especially now in the League –where every team has a chance to win every night," Stuart said.

“The home advantage isn’t as prevalent as it used to be. We’ve won some games we probably shouldn’t have, but we found ways to win. Other games, we’ve just been solid. It’s a pretty good accomplishment now that we’ve done it. I think we can reflect on it a little more.”

Jiri Hudler extended Detroit’s lead in the third period before Adam Burish saved some face for the Stars with a consolation 33 seconds from time to avoid a shutout.

"That's a darn good team over there. They didn't get the record by just showing up and playing. It's an impressive record. This isn't the ’70s. You can't show up at the rink and say, 'We're going to cruise through this one.' The competition level in this League from top to bottom is pretty good,” Burish said.