Ray Emery holds the National Hockey League record for the longest winning streak to begin a National Hockey League career, at nine games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' Patrick Lalime holds the National Hockey League record for the longest undefeated streak to begin a National Hockey League career, at sixteen games (14 wins, 2 ties).
Fellow Hall-of-Famer Ken Dryden tied Durnan's mark in 1971. Dryden's streak spans the 1971 offseason (and does not include his magical 1971 playoff run), winning all six of his decisions in March and April of 1971 (starting with a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 14). Dryden's streak reached fourteen (12-0-2) with a 38-save, 3-0 shutout of the Detroit Red Wings on October 30, 1971. The next night, Dryden and the Canadiens fell to Philadelphia on the road, losing 5-3 as the Flyers scored the final four goals (including an empty-netter) in the third period. Dryden had a close call on October 17, being pulled after allowing four goals to the Rangers. Rogie Vachon was credited with the loss for Montreal, who lost by an 8-4 margin.
Ross Brooks tied the streak at fourteen, going 11-0-3 in his first fourteen decisions for the 1972-73 Boston Bruins. Brooks would not lose until the final game of the 1972-73 regular season, a 5-3 loss to Montreal. Ed Johnston was pulled after one period, making Brooks (who allowed three goals on seventeen shots) the goalie of record.
In early 1983, Bob Froese came on the scene like a rocket, winning his first eight decisions (January 8-27, 1983) before tying the Minnesota North Stars on January 29. Froese extended his undefeated streak to thirteen with a sixteen save, 3-0 shutout over the New Jersey Devils on February 20. Froese could not tie Durnan's mark, however, falling to the Buffalo Sabres by a 4-2 margin on February 23.
On November 16, 1996, Patrick Lalime replaced Ken Wregget for the tail end of an 8-3 defeat at the hands of the New York Rangers (Lalime did not earn a decision). Beginning on December 6, Lalime then rattled off an amazing 14-0-2 undefeated streak, breaking Durnan's mark at sixteen games. Lalime's fifteenth straight non-loss game with a 31-save, 2-0 shutout over the Hartford Whalers on January 15, 1997. Six nights later, Lalime stopped 49 of 51 shots to knock off the Calgary Flames by a 4-2 count. Ultimately, the Colorado Avalanche ended the streak on January 23rd, falling 4-3 when Valeri Kamensky scored at 3:55 of the overtime period.
Ottawa rookie Ray Emery rattled off nine straight victories to begin his National Hockey League career, breaking Froese's mark and establishing a new league record. Froese's streak spanned several months - earning his first win on March 21, 2003 (5-1 win over Atlanta). Emery tied Froese (eight wins) on November 19, 2005, in a 5-4 win over Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils. Ten days later, Emery stopped twenty-seven shots in a 4-0 shutout win over Montreal to set the new league record. On December 10, Emery had a chance to extend his mark to ten games, but fell by a 2-1 overtime margin to the Calgary Flames.
Thirty-year-old Viktor Fasth got his National Hockey League career off on the right foot with the 2013 Anaheim Ducks. Fasth's winning streak reached eight games before falling to crosstown Los Angeles, 5-2, on February 25, 2013. Fasth was aided in his quest by four shootout victories (which would have been ties in Froese's day).
Martin Jones got his chance with the 2013-14 Los Angeles Kings after injury to starter Jonathan Quick. On December 3, Jones stopped all nine shootout attempts in a 3-2 win over Anaheim, leading to an amazing December that saw Jones run his winning streak to eight games, including his second shootout win on December 21 over Colorado. Jones notched three shutouts during his streak, which ended in a 5-2 loss to Dallas on December 23.