Will Ferrell’s character Frank “The Tank” Ricard from the movie Old School never could have imagined “going streaking” quite like this.
Colorado Mammoth forward Adam Jones has now scored at least one goal in 55 consecutive regular-season games, tying him with teammate John Grant Jr. for the longest goal-scoring-streak in NLL history. A goal on Saturday night at Pepsi Center would give Jones the record all to himself.
Adding to the importance of the night is the fact that the game will pit the NLL’s two best teams against one another, as the West Division-leading (and NLL’s best) Mammoth take on the East Division-leading New England Black Wolves.
How impressive is Jones’ streak, and how does it stack up against other streaks in pro sports?
MLB – Joe DiMaggio
New York Yankees centerfielder Joe DiMaggio recorded a hit in 56 straight games during the 1941 season. It’s a record that still stands to this day and is widely considered one of the most unbreakable “streaks” in sports.
NHL – Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers center Wayne Gretzky registered at least one point in each of the first 51 games of the 1983-84 season. ‘The Great One’ scored 153 points (an average of three per game) during his streak.
NFL – Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Johnny Unitas’ record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass. Unitas’ mark stood for more than half a century until Brees flew past him, ultimately ending at 54. (Peyton Manning (51) and Tom Brady (52) later passed Unitas themselves.)
NBA – Wilt Chamberlain
NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain owns the longest streak in NBA history of scoring 30 or more points in consecutive games. His 65-game streak in the 1961-62 season while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors was halted by a 26-point game against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 24, 1962. He went on to score 30-plus in the next 31 games, the second-longest streak in league history.
NLL – Adam Jones
Colorado Mammoth forward Adam Jones began his 55 game goal-scoring streak during his rookie season in 2012. Jones scored a hat trick twenty-two times during the streak. Four times, he’s scored a sock trick (six goals). A goal on Saturday will break the current NLL record of 55, set by his teammate John Grant Jr.
Here’s more on Jones’ streak and some of the highlights from it…
– During Jones’ streak, he’s scored 152 goals (2.76 goals-per-game average) while shooting at a .203 clip.
– Since the start of the 2014 season, the left-handed forward has averaged 3.16 goals per game. He boasts a .214 shooting percentage during that period.
– Forty-two of his 152 goals have come on the power-play, six have come short-handed, and 104 were scored at even-strength.
– He has sock tricks in back-to-back home games (1.16 vs. BUF, 2.27 vs. VAN), becoming the first player to do so since 2010.
– Jones’ sock trick on Feb. 27 came in just one period as he set a new NLL record for goals in the fourth quarter (six).
– The first three of Jones’ goals on Feb. 27 came in a 27-second span, the fastest on record the NLL can trace in its history.
– Jones’ game-winning goal on Feb. 27 – his sixth of the game – came with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation.
Image Credit: ColoradoMammoth.com