The longest winning streak in NHL history is held by the 1992-1993 Pittsburgh Penguins at 17 games to end the season (though, their last game was a 6-6 tie which would have been win number 18).
The Pens also own the record for most consecutive playoff wins with 11 wins straight in 1991-1992 where they won three straight to end the series with the New York Rangers, swept the Bruins and then swept the Blackhawks to win their second straight Stanley Cup. Their streak actually stands at 14 games however, since the next year in the 1992-1993 playoffs the Pens won three more straight to open those playoffs.
Of additional note, the 1979-1980 Philadelphia Flyers (a.k.a the "Broad Street Bullies") hold the longest undefeated streak (games without a loss) with 35 straight games where they either won or tied. That is a North American professional sports record.
The 1990 Peoria Rivermen
Coached by Bob Plager, the Peoria Rivermen not only claimed their second IHL Turner Cup championship, but also set a world professional hockey record with 18 straight wins between Oct. 6, 1990 and Nov. 22, 1990.
The team, a farm club of the St. Louis Blues, finished with a 58-19-5 record and easily won its IHL title with 121 points.
In all, the team set 41 world, professional, league and franchise records while playing before
300,000 fans, making the Rivermen the most watched local team in Peoria sports history.
The Rivermen were led by four standout offensive performances.
David Bruce led the team with 64 goals and 62 assists for 116 points while Nelson Emerson was 36-79--115, Dave Thomlinson 53-54--107, and Michel Mongeau 41-65--106. Bruce was named the league's Most Valuable Player by the Hockey News while Plager was named Coach of the Year.
Emerson was named Rookie of the Year and Mongeau was voted the playoff Most Valuable Player after scoring 26 points in 19 playoff games with 10 goals and 16 assists.
In Cup playoffs, the Rivermen whipped Milwaukee four out of six games, took Phoenix in seven, and toppled Ft. Wayne in six for the final playoff record of 12-7.
Of the 34 players who appeared for Peoria in this historic season, 22 went on to play in the National Hockey League.
Update:
On Saturday, 8th January 2011, the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League in Britain achieved a world record with a 6-5 win over the Nottingham Panthers, their nineteenth straight victory.
Longest winning streak: Pittsburgh Penguins with 17 straight wins Longest winning streak at home: Detroit Red Wings with 23
1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins
12 games -- Detroit Red Wings from March 1 - April 15, 2006
Montreal Canadians vs Ottawa in 1982- 1999
The Pittsburgh Penguins won 17 consecutive games in 1993
Well Alec Connell went 461 minutes and 29 seconds without giving up a goal in the 1927-28 season. That's roughly 7 and a half games.
Wayne Gretzky managed to accumulate a 61 game point streak
The Edmonton Oilers scored 92 goals in the 1988 playoffs, winning the stanley cup.
currently the Toronto maple leafs have the longest losing streak. They are 0 7 in 1 meaning the tied once and lost 7 games that is of October 25 and they may even have aq longer losing streak
Washington Capitols of the 1974-1975 season. Lost 17 straight games.
NHL players do not get paid during the playoffs.
The 2011 NHL playoffs began on April 13.